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THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 




INTERIOR OF CHURCH— DR. ELDRIDGE'S PULPIT. 



I 744- I QOO 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK 



LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT 



\ 



OPENING CHAPTERS BY 

REV. JOSEPH ELDRIDGE, D.D. 



COMPILED BY 

THERON WILMOT CRISSEY, L.L.B. 



EVERETT, MASS. 

MASSACHUSETTS PUBLISHING COMPANY 

1900 



THIS BOOK 

IS REVERENTLY DEDICATED 

TO THE 

MEMORY OF MY HONORED PARENTS, 

AND 

FORMER TOWNS-PEOPLE, 

"the DEAR OLD FOLKS I LOVED LONG AGO." 

THEROX WILMOT CRISSEY. 



%.\<^\& 



/ 



76? 



PREFACE. 



" Of making many books there is no end."' 
" O that mine adversary had written a book." 

— Holt Weit. 

Some years ago, in searching out family genealogy, 
the want of a history of my native town became to me 
apparent. As bits of Norfolk history were from time 
to time discovered, in books and elsewhere, such items 
were preserved, and ,the accumulation began. A de- 
sire to learn many things from those whose memories 
and traditions go back to the early part of this cen- 
tury took hold upon me, and knowing full well that 
upon those around whom the shades of evening have 
gathered, soon the sun will set, and their remem- 
brances be forever beyond our reach, an effort to ob- 
tain these things through correspondence was made, 
with results not altogether satisfactory. 

In June, 1899, I came 'home' and soon took up in 
earnest the work of preparing a history of Norfolk. 
The encouragement and kindly assistance of a large 
number of the present residents of the town, and for- 
mer residents as well, has made the difficult, perplex- 
ing task a pleasure. Mention by name cannot well be 
made of the large number who have put me under 
lasting obligation for their kind assistance. Some of 
them have done for others and for me what they could 
do, and have 'entered into their rest.' Mention should 
be made of the kindness and assistance, great and 
manifold, rendered by the family of Dr. Joseph El- 
dridge, which has made possible the publication of 



iv. PREFACE. 

this volume. Access has been given to the many rare, 
valuable manuscripts which were prepared and left 
by Dr. Eldridge, which have been indispensable in 
compiling this history. So, in a measure, my purpose 
has been accomplished, of preserving in permanent 
form some record of the lives and work of the past 
generations, upon whom the curtain has fallen and 
shut them from our sight. 

It has been a pleasure to recall and mention, if 
nothing more, the names of some of those who have 
walked these streets in former times; have dwelt in 
these homes; have heard the same Sabbath bell, and 
gathered for worship in these temples; have sat in the 
same seats in church which we now occupy ; their eyes 
have looked upon these same beautiful landscapes of 
valley and mountain; their feet have climbed these 
everlasting hills where they, too, have looked out and 
up, and adored the great Creator and Ruler of all. 
And they are gone. 

Such as it is, suggestive, — not exhaustive, — with 
some errors which should not have been, — it is sent 
forth on its mission, in the hope that it may be of in- 
terest and help to all of its readers some of the time. 

THERON WILMOT CRISSEY. 

Norfolk, Conn., September 1, 1900. 



CONTENTS. 



I. By Rev. Joseph Eldridge, D. D. . . , 2 

A Glance "at the History of Connecticut Piior to the Set- 
tlement of Norfolk. 

II. By Dr. Eldridge. . . . . . . 11 

Sale and Settlement of the Town — Building the Meeting- 
House. 

III. By Dr. Eldridge 20 

Events of Interest in the Town up to the Time of the 
Eevolutionary War. 

IV. 33 

Connecticut's Early Town System — Settlement of Towns 
in Litchfield County — Grant of the " Western Lands" to 
Hartford and Windsor — Controversy Between the Colony 
and Those Towns — Organization of Litchfield County — 
Sale, Settlement and Incorporation of the Town. 

V. 49 

How the Original Title to Land was Obtained — Propri- 
etors' Meetings — Dividing and Drawing Land — Eighty 
Acres of Land Voted for an Iron Works. 

VI. , . 61 

First Town Meeting — Locating, Building, Dignifying 
and Seating the Meeting-House — Raising Money and 
Material. 

VII. 72 

Early Customs and Habits — Organization of the First 
Church — Settlement of Rev. Ammi R. Robbins. 

VIII. 78 

The Revolutionary War — Names and Service of Norfolk 
Men in the Army — Chaplain Robbins' Journal. 



vi. CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

IX 122 

Rev. Mr. Eobbins' Half-Century Sermon. 

X 141 

Centennial Anniversary in 1844 — Address by Rev. Thomas 
Eobbins, D. D. 

XI 155 

Formation of Norfolk Ecclesiastical Society in 1813 — 
Establishment of the Ecclesiastical Society Fund in 1817 — 
Purchase of the First Organ in 1822. 

XII. 177 

Sketch of Rev. Ralph Emerson, D. D., Ordained and In- 
stalled as Pastor, June, 1816 — Dismissed, October, 1829. 
(See Appendix.) 

XIII 177 

Sketch of Mrs. Z. P. Grant-Banister — Her Early Life in 
Norfolk — Record as a Teacher. "She Originated Hol- 
yoke Seminary." 

XIV 190 

Building the Present Meeting-House — Ascertaining the 
Centre of the Town by Survey — Names of Contributors. 

XV. 196 

"The Two Villages," by Mrs. Rose Terry-Cook — The 
Cemeteries of the Town — Remarkable Longevity. 

XVI. 202 

Litchfield County Centennial in 1851 — Oration by Judge 
Samuel Church — Address by Dr. Horace Bushnell. 

XVII 211 

Severe Winters and Great Snows — The Blizzard of 1888 
— The Ice-Storm of 1898. 

XVIII 219 

Killing a Panther — Treed by a Bear — A Wolf-Hunt — 
Fires near and in the Meeting-House. 

- XIX 223 

Manufactures and Manufacturers — A Large Number of 
Enterprises. 



CONTENTS. vii. 

PAGE 

XX 262 

. Norfolk Merchants — Schools — The Park. 

XXI 294 

^ Period Prior to the Civil War — Anti-Slavery Society — 

* Norfolk Men in the War of the Rebellion — Sketch of Ad- 

'. jutant Samuel C. Barnum — Sketch of Colonel George 

Ryan. 

XXn 329 

■] Highways — A Railroad Through Norfolk — Struggle as 

j to its Location — Dr. Eldridge Before the Commissioners. 

XXIII 354 

The Whipping-post — First Post-office — Temperance Or- 
! ganizations — Culture of Silk — Indian Story — Norfolk 

Banks — Prices Current, 1778 — Colored People — Eleva- — 
tions — Singing Schools — Anecdotes — Old Pastorates — 
Census Reports — Norfolk Brick — The French War — War 
of 1812 — Strong Fund— Probate District — Whitefield in 
Norfolk — Reminiscences of Dr. Eldridge, by Ex-Gover- 
nor Cooke — Masonic Centennial — Sketch of Norfolk, by 
S. H. D. 

XXIV 392 

Sketch of Rev. Ammi R. Robbins, by His Son — Madame 
Elizabeth Robbins — Rev. Thomas Robbins, D.D. — Rem- 
iniscences by Mrs. Mary Robbins-Kasson. 

XXV 404 

The Rev. Joseph Eldridge, D.D. — Sketches, by President 
Porter, of Yale College ; by Rev. Joseph F. Gaylord ; by 
Dr. W. L. Gale — Farewell Services — Obituary Notices — 
Sketch of Mrs. Sarah Battell Eldridge — Miss Cynthia L. 
Fosket — Presentation of Communion Service. 

XXVI 445 

Sketch of Joseph Battell, Esq. — Mrs. Sarah Robbins- 
Battell — Joseph Battell, Jun. — Mrs. Irene Battell Earned 
— Robbins Battell — Mrs. Urania Battell-Humphrey — Miss 
Anna Battell — Philip Battell — Mrs. Ellen Battell- 
Eldridge. 

XXVII 466 

Hopestill Welch and Family — Benjamin Welch, Sen., 
M. D., and Family — Asa G. Welch, M. D. — Benjamin 



viii. CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Welch, Jun., M.D. — James Welch, M. D. —William W, 
Welch, M. D.— John H. Welch, M. D, —Samuel Cowles — 
Henry Cowles, D. D. — Louisa Welch Pettibone — Pro- 
fessor William H. Welch, M.D. LLD. — Ephraim Guiteau, 
M.D. — Fredericli M. Shepard — Mrs. Laura Hawley- 
Thurston — Rev. Reuben Gaylord. 

XXVIII 494 

Physiography and Geology of the Town ; by Professor 
William H. liobbs — The riora of Norfolk; by Professor 
J. H. Barbour and others. 

XXIX 503 

Brief Sketches of Early Settlers of the Town and Their 
Descendants — Mention of a Large Number of Families 
and Individuals, as learned in a great number of ways. 

(See Index of names.) 

XXX 579 

First and Other Church Organs — Memorial Windows and 
Tablets — The Methodist Episcopal Church — The Catholic 
'Church of the Immaculate Conception' — The Episcopal 
' Church of the Transfiguration ' — The Baptist Church. 

XXXI 591 

Concluding Chapter — Modern Norfolk — The Robbins 
School — The Norfolk Library — The Eldridge Gymnasiiun 
— Battell Memorial Fountain — The Village Hall — Norfolk 
Downs — Norfolk Water Company — Newspapers — Photo- 
graphy — Summer Residents. 

Norfolk's Necrology. ...... 603 

List of Deaths of Male Heads of Families, 1762 to 1846 — 
Record of Deaths of Adults from 1840 to 1900 — Town 
Clerks — Town Treasurers — Probate Judges — First Sel- 
ectmen — List of Representatives and Senators from Nor- 
folk to the General Assembly from 1777 to 1900. 

Appendix. ......... 621 



INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER 

BY 

REV. JOSEPH ELDRIDGE, D.D. 



A GLANCE AT THE HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT BEFORE THE 
SETTLEMENT OF THIS TOWN. 



"A History of Norfolk, from 1738 to 1844, by 
Auren Roys," containing eighty-nine pages, was pub- 
lished in 1847. Dr. Eldridge had been pastor of the 
church here since April, 1832. In 1856 he announced 
his purpose of writing a fuller history of the town, 
and of delivering chapters of it to his people as a 
discourse upon Thank8gi\ing days, from year to year. 
The following introductory chapter was given as a dis- 
course by Dr. Eldridge, Thanksgiving Day, November, 
1856, and by the great kindness and courtesy of his 
family, is given here, from the original manuscript. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 



145 Ps., 4. "One generation shall praise tliy works to another, and shall 
declare thy mighty acts." 

"All history is instructive. History teaches by example. 
It is a record of the developments of Divine providence. No 
history is more instructive or interesting than that of our 
own country. It recounts the labors, toils, and sufferings of 
our own ancestors. It narrates those events which have 
contributed to determine the social and political condition 
in which we find ourselves. The history of the United 
States has one special advantage and attraction; it is au- 
thentic. The origin of most of the states and nations of 
Europe is involved in much obscurity. Our own can be 
traced back, clearly and distinctly to its earliest begin- 
nings. There are ample, reliable materials for the history 
of the colonies. 

Then the events of our history are of the most striking 
character. Highly interesting in themselves, they are be- 
coming still more so by the promise which they hold in 
regard to the future. 

Our general history has an interest for the whole world. 
It is peculiarly instructive and interesting to our country- 
men. Local histories are important as furnishing the ele- 
ments of general history, and they have peculiar attractions 
for those born and reared in the places themselves. It is a 
duty of filial piety, as well as gratitude to the supreme dis- 
poser of events, to gather up, and preserve, and transmit all 
the memorials we can, of the labors, trials, and achieve- 
ments of those who have preceded us on the spot where we 
dwell. We have entered into their labors. We reap the 
results of their enterprise, forecast, and efforts. We sit 
under the shadow, and eat the fruits of the tree which they 
planted. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 3 

As a preliminary to a history of Norfolk, a glance at that 
portion of the history of Couuectient prior to the settlement 
of this town appears to be desirable. 

The title to the land and right of Robert, earl of Warwick, 
was the first proprietary of the soil under a grant from the 
Council for New England. March 19, 1631, he ceded it by 
patent to Lord Say and Seal, Lord Brook, John Hampden 
and others. Before any colony could be established under 
their authority, individuals, headed by William Holmes of 
Plymouth had, September 1633, erected a trading house at 
Windsor. The June previous to the arrival of Holmes, the 
Dutch from Manhattan, had established themselves at Hart- 
ford, having purchased twenty acres of land of a Pequot 
chief, — built a fort and mounted a couple of cannon. They 
claimed Connecticut, and never wholly relinquished their 
claims until 1661. The fur trade with the Indians was then 
very lucrative. The Dutch purchased of the Indians 
annually ten thousand beaver skins. In 1634, a f©w men 
from Watertown, Mass., came and erected huts at Wethers- 
field, which is the oldest town in the state. In 1635 a 
number of men came from Dorchester to Windsor, and 
erected log houses. Other men from Watertown did the 
same at Wethersfield. In the autumn, having completed 
these preparations, these men returned to Mass. for their 
families, and on the 15th of October there set out about 
sixty men, women and children with horses, cattle and 
swine. More than a hundred miles of wilderness through 
which no roads existed, whose streams were without 
bridges, and whose sole inhabitants were Indians and wild 
beasts, had to be traversed. Dr. Trumbull says, "after a 
tedious journey, through swamps and rivers, over moun- 
tains and rough ground which were passed with great 
difficulty and fatigue, they arrived at their place of destina- 
tion. But the journey had consumed much time, and the 
winter set in earlier than usual. To add to their embarrass- 
ment and trials, the provisions designed for the winter, and 
their household utensils, had been sent around by water and 
were expected to be brought up the Connecticut River. 



4 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Some of the vessels that were freighted with these goods 
were wrecked in the sound. The rest were prevented 
ascending the river by the ice. The condition of these 
families was forlorn. In this emergency thirteen men set 
out to retrace their way back to Boston. Seventy, men, 
women and children, left Windsor and Wethersfield, and in 
dead of winter made their way from fifty to sixty miles to 
the mouth of the river, to obtain their provisions, but not 
finding them, they embarked in a vessel lying there and 
sailed for Boston and arrived in a few days. Yet in the 
opening of the next year, 1636, the budding of the trees and 
the springing of the grass were signals of a greater emigra- 
tion to Connecticut. The principal caravan commenced its 
march in June. Thomas Hooker, the light of the western 
churches, led the company. It consisted of about a hundred 
souls, many of them accustomed to affluence and the ease 
of European life." 

Bancroft says, ''They drove before them numerous herds 
of cattle, and thus they traversed on foot the pathless 
forests of Massachusetts, advancing hardly ten miles a day 
through the tangled woods, across the swamps and numer- 
ous streams and over the high lands that separated the 
several intervening valleys, subsisting as they slowly wan- 
dered along on the milk of kine, which browsed on the fresh 
leaves and early shoots, having no guide through the un- 
trodden wilderness but the compass, and no pillow for their 
nightly rest but heaps of stones. How did the hills echo 
with the unwonted lowing of herds. How were the forests 
enlivened by the loud and fervent piety of Hooker. Never 
again was there such a pilgrimage from the seaside to the 
beautiful banks of the Connecticut. The emigrants had 
been gathered from the most valued citizens, the earliest 
settlers and the oldest churches of the Bay. Of this com- 
pany, some settled at Windsor, some at Wethersfield, but 
the larger portion with Hooker took up their residence at 
Hartford." 

In 1638, in the month of April, the New Haven Colony, 
headed by Rev. John Davenport and Theophilus Eaton, 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 5 

arrived at that place, called by the Indians Quinnipiack. 
The emigrants passed their first Sabbath with appropriate 
services under a branching oak, large enough to shelter the 
whole company, men, women and children. Governor Eaton 
was elected Governor of New Haven Colony, twenty-three 
years. The constitution which they adopted, or the planta- 
tion covenant into which they entered, was in these words: 
''That as in matters concerning the gathering and ordering 
of a church, so also in all public affairs that concern civil 
order, they would all of them be ordered by the rules which 
the Scriptures held forth to them." 

January 14, 1639, the Hartford Colony perfected its 
political institutions, and by voluntary association formed 
a body politic. According to that constitution the elective 
franchise belonged to all members of the towns who had 
taken the oath of allegiance to the commonwealth. The 
magistrates and legislature were chosen annually by ballot, 
and the representatives were apportioned among the towns 
according to their population. John Haynes was the first 
Governor of Hartford Colony. 

Meantime the Pequot Indians had been exterminated, in 
1637. This warlike tribe had from the first exhibited a 
hostile spirit towards the English. They had committed 
several murders. 

Capt. John Mason, with ninety English, attacked Fort 
Mystic at daylight, May 28, 1637. It was set on fire, and in 
one hour above six hundred Indians, men, women and chil- 
dren, perished. This terrible blow struck dismay into the 
hearts of the other tribes, and secured peace to the colonists 
for a long period. When the colonies were first established 
in Connecticut. Charles I. sat on the British throne. The 
King and Archbishop Laud were exercising political and 
ecclesiastical despotism in Great Britain, and proceeded to 
take measures to restrain the freedom enjoyed in the colo- 
nies. But soon the troubles commenced in England that 
brought that monarch to the block. He was succeeded by 
the Protector, Oliver Cromwell. During this whole period 
affairs at home so absorbed attention that the colonies 



6 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

were pretty much left to themselves. In 1660 the monarchy 
was re-established, and Charles II. was raised to the throne 
of his ancestors. The colonists, hearing of his accession to 
the throne, were desirous of obtaining his sanction to their 
title to their lands. The Connecticut or Hartford Colony 
sent the younger Winthrop as their agent. He obtained a 
charter, — the celebrated charter of Charter Oak memory. 
The charter connected New Haven with Hartford as one 
colony, of which the limits were from the Narragansett 
River on the east to the Pacific Ocean on the west. This 
was the foundation of the claim of Connecticut on Western 
Lands, whence originated our School Fund. This charter, 
so ample in its grant of territory, was equally comprehen- 
sive in the powers of government which it conferred. They 
were allowed to elect their own officers, to enact their own 
laws, to administer justice without appeals to England, to 
inflict penalties, to confer pardons, and, in a word, to ex- 
ercise every power, deliberative and active. It contained no 
provision for the interference of the British government in 
any event whatever. This charter was granted to Winthrop 
as agent of the Hartford, or, as it was called, the Connecti- 
cut Colony, but it embraced all the territory of the New 
Haven Colony, and virtually nullified its independent 
political existence. This gave to that colony some dissatis- 
faction, but in 1664 the two were united under one govern- 
ment; and it was doubtless to soothe this feeling of jealousy 
that it was arranged that the Legislature should meet 
alternately at Hartford and New Haven. 

The united colony continued to grow. It was left very 
much to itself during the reign of Charles II. 

February 6, 1685, James II., a bigoted Catholic and a 
political tyrant, ascended the throne of Great Britain. So 
eager w^as he to interfere with the rights and privileges 
enjoyed by the colony of Connecticut under the charter 
granted them by Charles II., the brother of James II., that 
early in the summer of 1685, the year of his coming to the 
throne, a quo warranto was issued against the Governor 
and Company of Connecticut, citing them to appear before 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 7 

the King within eight days of St. Martin's, to show by what 
right and tenure they exercised certain powers and privi- 
leges. The Colony petitioned the King to withdraw the 
writ of quo warranto. Instead of complying with the prayer 
of the Colony, the next year, 1686, July 21, Edward Ran- 
dolph, an old and dreaded enemy of the Colony, made his 
appearance in the Colony, armed with two writs, which he 
delivered to Governor Treat. Other writs of like character 
were served on the Governor, one of them requiring the 
defendants to appear before the King within eight days of 
the purification of the Blessed Virgin. 

The movements on the part of the King created much 
anxiety in the Colony. The charters of Massachusetts and 
Rhode Island had been taken away. A general government 
had been appointed over all New England, Connecticut 
excepted. This government was instituted on a commis- 
sion, and Joseph Dudley was named President of the Com- 
missioners. President Dudley had addressed a letter to the 
Governor and Council of Connecticut, advising them to 
resign their charter into the King's hands. They did not 
deem it advisable to follow^ this advice. Ere long Dudley 
was removed from the otfice of Royal Governor of New 
England, and the man appointed to succeed him was the 
notorious Sir Edmond Andross, who arrived in Boston 
December 19, 1686. He immediately sent a letter to the 
Governor and Company of Connecticut, informing them 
that he was commissioned by the King to receive their 
charter if they were disposed to give it up to him. But the 
charter was not given up. He exhorted them not to render 
it necessary for him to resort to any compulsory measures. 
In October, 1687, the General Assembly convened as usual 
and held their regular session at Hartford. On Monday, 
October 31, 1687, Sir Edmund Andross, attended by several 
members of his council and other gentlemen, surrounded 
by a body guard of about sixty soldiers, entered Hartford 
wth a view of siezing the charter. 

The Assembly was in session when he arrived, and he 
was received with all outward respect by the Governor, 



8 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Council and Assembly. Andross entered the Legislative 
hall, in presence of the Assembly demanded the charter, 
and declared the government that was then acting under it 
to be dissolved. Governor Treat remonstrated against this 
arbitrary proceeding. He recounted the history of the early 
settlement of the colony, the trials and privations endured. 
He portrayed their wars with the Indians, and said it would 
be like giving up life itself now to surrender the charter 
that secured to them rights and privileges so dearly bought 
and so long enjoyed. 

The time wore on; the shades of evening gathered around 
the Legislative chamber, still the charter did not make its 
appearance. Sir Edmond became impatient. Lighted 
candles are brought in. The Governor and his assistants 
appear to yield. The charter is brought in and laid upon 
the table in the midst of the Assembly. In an instant the 
lights were all extinguished and the room wrapped in total 
darkness. Not a word was spoken; the silence was as pro- 
found as the darkness. The candles were re-lighted, but, 
strange to tell, the charter had disappeared. All search 
was in vain. Sir Edmond Andross smothered his wrath 
as well as he could, and in the following strain announced 
the dissolution of the Colonial Government: 

"At a General Court at Hartford, October 31, 1687, His 
Excellency, Sir Edmond Andross, Knight, and Captain Gen- 
eral, and Governor of His Majesty's territories and do- 
minions in New England, by order of James II., King of 
England, Scotland, France and Ireland, the 31st of October, 
1687, took into his hands the government of the Colony of 
Connecticut, it being by His Majesty annexed to Massa- 
chusetts and other colonies under His Excellency's Govern- 
ment. Finis." 

But where was the charter? What had become of it? 

As soon as the lights were put out Capt. Wadsworth 
seized the charter and carried it out of the room. Secretly 
he flew to the friendly tree and deposited it in the hollow of 
its trunk. That event took place nearly two hundred years 
ago. The old oak, as we have all heard, has fallen. It was 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 9 

an old tree at that time, and it survived it nearly tveo hun- 
dred years. What changes took place around it and in the 
world from the day when it sprung from the acorn to the 
day of its fall. 

Before Governor Willys came to America he sent forward 
his agent to prepare a place for his reception. While they 
were felling the trees upon the hill on which Willys after- 
ward lived, he was waited on by some Indians of South 
Meadow, who came to remonstrate against the cutting 
down of a venerable oak that stood upon the side of the 
mound now consecrated to freedom. It has been said this 
was the guide of our ancestors for centuries as to the time 
of planting corn. When the leaves are the size of mouse's 
ears, then is the time to put the seed into the ground. 

That tree, says Hollister, in his history, was the Charter 
Oak. 

The colony was soon relieved of the rule of Andross, for 
in 1688 a great revolution took place in England. James 
11. was ejected from the throne, and William, Prince of 
Orange, and Mary ascended it. Governor Treat resumed 
his oflSce and things went on as before, and this course re- 
ceived the sanction of the Government in England. Still 
the crown wished to have the command of the militia, claim- 
ing it as a royal prerogative. The King conferred it on the 
Governor of New York. The Legislature and people re- 
sisted, and sent a messenger with a petition to the King. 
Fletcher, Governor of New York, was impatient to exercise 
this power. He soon made his appearance in Hartford, and 
ordered its militia under arms, that he might beat up for 
volunteers for the army. The train bands were assembled, 
and William Wadsworth, the senior Captain of the town, 
walked in front of them, busy in exercising them. Fletcher 
advanced to assume command, ordering Bayard of New 
York to read his commission and the royal instructions. 
Captain Wadsworth then ordered the drums to be beaten. 
The petulant Fletcher commanded silence. He had said to 
Governor Treat, I will not set my foot out of the colony 
till I have seen his majesty's command obeyed. Bayard of 



10 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

New York once more began to read. Once more the drums 
beat. Silence! exclaimed Fletcher. Drum, drum, I say, 
shouted Wadsworth, adding, as he turned to Fletcher, If 
I am interrupted again I will make the sun shine through 
you in a moment. Fletcher was intimidated and went back 
in haste to New York, notwithstanding his threat not to Bo 
so until he had seen the King's order obeyed. The affairs 
of the colony advanced, marked by no occurrence that it 
would be proper to notice in so brief a sketch as I intend 
this to be. 

Remember, the blessings which we enjoy cost a great 
deal. How much thought, deliberation, enterprise, — how 
much toil and suffering; how many minds and hearts and 
hands co-operated. 

It is wonderful, also, to notice the indications of Divine 
interposition. How remarkably is that evident in raising 
up men just suited to the emergency, and bringing them on 
the spot at the critical moment. Were wisdom and sagacity 
required, the Winthrops, the Davenports, the Hookers, the 
Eatons were at hand. Did the emergency demand boldness 
and prompt action, then men like Captains Mason and 
Wadsworth started up. How much reason, then, for con- 
gratulation that the planting and early care of the colony 
was entrusted to such hands. But it was not the distin- 
guished leaders in council or in the field alone who were 
animated by the right spirit. The great body of the men 
whose names are not distinguished were the genuine 
material out of which to lay the foundations of a great 
nation. The intelligent yeomen, the high-hearted, virtuous 
women of that day, sustained and encouraged those whom 
they put in advance. But what was the secret of their 
wisdom and energy? They feared God. They saw clearly 
their rights and duties, and, trusting in Him, they had but 
little dread of men or kings. 

They w^ere respectful to legitimate authority; they obeyed 
the laws; but then they could not endure injustice and 
oppression. 

It is plain that this colony and the other colonies were in 




BUTTERMILK FALLS. 



HISTOEY OF NORFOLK. 11 

training tor independence. This they did not know, al- 
though we can now see how certainly it was so. While 
colonies they in fact governed themselves. They came to 
regard it not as a privilege but as a right to do so. They 
were eminently a religious people. In all emergencies, 
before taking an important step, they looked to God. They 
set apart a day of fasting and prayer for Divine guidance. 
They did this when their charter was in danger. They did 
it when they were threatened by the Indians. O, that more 
of their spirit now animated us, their descendants, who have 
entered upon the great inheritance that they have be- 
queathed to us. When there is wrong in high places, when 
those in power decree unrighteous judgments, while we 
are doing everything else that our duty prescribes, let us 
also pray to the God of our fathers." 



II, 

SALE AND SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN — BUILDING THE 
MEETING HOUSE. 

By Rev. Joseph Eldridge, D.D. 

On Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1857, Dr. Eldridgt 
delivered his second discourse on the "History of Norfolk." 
This date was a few weeks after the beginning of the ''Re- 
vival of 1857," in which he was most deeply engrossed, and 
to which he makes reference. 

He said : 'Tast Thanksgiving Day I commenced a history 
of Norfolk, and gave one installment, which consisted of a 
brief sketch of the history of the state previous to the set- 
tlement of this place. Another installment I shall give on 
this occasion, but it will be more brief and imperfect than 
I could wish, owing to the fact that, being much occupied 
for a few weeks past, I have had but very little time to 
devote to its preparation. 

The unsettled lands in the northwest part of this state 
were for a number of years the subject of a violent contro- 
versy. The parties in the controversy were the Colony of 



12 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Connecticut «n the one hand and the towns of Hartford and 
Windsor on the other. Sir Edmond Andross, the emissary 
of James II., was expected in the country armed with 
authority to vacate the charter of the colonies of New Eng- 
land. In anticipation of this visit, and to secure the unsold 
lands from his rapacity, the Colony of Connecticut, by the 
act of its Legislature, passed January 26, 1686, made the 
towns of Hartford and Windsor the following grant: 'This 
court grants to the plantations of Hartford and Windsor 
those lands on; the north of Woodbury and Mattatuck, and 
on the west of Farmington and Simsbury to the Massachu- 
setts line north, to run west to Housatonic or Stratford 
river, provided it be not, or part of it, formerly granted to 
any particular persons, to form a plantation or village,' 

The design of this conveyance was that these towns, 
that had never purchased these lands and had no ground 
of claim to them, should hold them for the colony until 
those days of trouble and danger should be past. But on 
the arrival of better times the towns of Hartford and Wind- 
sor set up a claim to all these lands, basing it on the afore- 
said grant, and proceeded to make sales of portions of 
them. A bitter controversy sprung up, threatening serious 
consequences. In October, 1722, the Assembly being in 
session at Hartford, individuals who had taken possession 
of lands under titles derived from Hartford and Windsor, 
were arrested as trespassers, and imprisoned at Hartford. 
A mob collected, broke open the jail, and released them. 

Anticipating the most disastrous consequences from the 
continuance of the controversy, the Assembly, two years 
afterwards, 1724, appointed a committee to take the whole 
subject into consideration, and report some mode of 
amicably adjusting the difficulty. This committee at the 
end of two years reported that the lands be equally divided 
between, or half go to the colony and the other half to the 
towns of Hartford and Windsor. This report was substan- 
tially adopted by the Assembly, May, 1726, and subsequently 
secured by patent to Hartford and Windsor, the eastern 
half of the disputed lands, viz., that portion of them east of 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 13 

Litchfield, Goshen and Norfolk, and reserved to the colony 
the western half, viz., Goshen, Norfolk, Canaan, Cornwall, 
Kent and Salisbury. 

The question of title being settled, the Assembly pro- 
ceeded to survey and divide into townships its lands. 

Norfolk, as thus laid out, is nine miles long, from north 
to south, and four and a half broad on an average from east 
to west, and is estimated to contain 22,336 acres of land. 

The town was originally divided into fifty-three rights of 
land, each containing, on estimation 400 acres. Three of 
these rights the state reserved, — one for the benefit of 
schools, one to aid in the support of the minister, and one 
to be given in fee to the first orthodox minister who should 
be settled in the town. 

Soon after these five towns, Goshen, Norfolk, Canaan, 
Kent and Salisbury, were laid out, the trustees of Yale 
College applied to the Assembly for a grant of land in aid 
of the institution, and in 1732 the Assembly made a grant 
of 1500 acres to the trustees — 300 acres in each town. 

The town of Norfolk was offered for sale at Hartford, 
the second Tuesday of April, 1738. No purchaser appeared 
In 1742 it was again offered, at Middletown, but was not 
found to be in great demand, owing, probably to the fact 
that there were in the market lands of better quality in 
towns more eligibly situated. In May, 1750, the Assembly 
ordered what remained undisposed of to be sold at auction 
at Middletown the December following, but all of the rights 
were not sold till about four years later. 

The town was incorporated in 1758, and then contained 
twenty-seven resident families. Each proprietor of a right 
was required to settle one family on his right within five 
years. In about three years the number of families in- 
creased to sixty, and soon after to seventy. Some of the 
original purchasers of rights, on seeing the land, forfeited 
their first payment of forty shillings on a right. The por- 
tions so relinquished were re-sold. The first town meeting 
was holden December 12, 1758. There were forty-four legal 
voters present. 



14 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

I would here remark that I have been furnished with the 
genealogies of several families, and should be obliged for 
any others. These ought to be appended to the history of 
the town; also as full sketches as possible of individuals 
that have been any way eminent. 

The important matter of religion received early atten- 
tion. The town and ecclesiastical society were one and the 
same body at that early day, and continued to be so for 
more than fifty years. 

The first sermon delivered in the town was preached by 
a Rev. Mr. Treat, December 20, 1758. A Kev. Mr. Peck was 
hired the January following, 1759, and supplied the pulpit, 
or the people, with preaching for some time, for the meeting 
house was not then commenced. 

In 1760, March 31, they invited Rev. Noah YV etmore to 
settle with them, but for some reason the Ecclesiastical 
Council did rwot approve of him, and the business fell 
through. The same year, 1760, after a probation of several 
months, they invited Rev, eTesse Ives to settle with them 
in the gospel ministry, but before the arrangement was 
consummated, in a personal interview with one of his pro- 
spective parishioners, the Rev. Mr. Ives lost his temper, and 
made use of some expression that disgusted the man, and 
when made known, the people also, and put a stop to the 
proceedings looking to his settlement here in the ministry. 

In June, 1761, Rev. Ammi R. Robbins was invited to 
preach as a candidate. On the 16th of September following 
he received a unanimous call to settle with them in the 
ministry. As an inducement to accept their invitation, they 
offered Rev. Mr. Robbins the right of land reserved by the 
Assembly for the first minister settled in the place, and 
£62 10s. lawful money per annum for the first two years of 
his ministry, and afterward £70 lawful money per annum. 
Rev. Mr. Robbins accepted the proposal and was ordained 
October 28, 1761. At a town meeting holden six years after- 
wards, the consent of Rev. Mr. Robbins having been ob- 
tained, it was voted that the salary of £70 which had been 
previously paid in lawful money should thereafter be paid 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 15 

in produce, to wit., pork, beef, wheat, rye, Indian corn, iron, 
cheese, tallow, either or all of them, at a reasonable price; 
and it was further voted that the town should appoint annu- 
ally five men as committee to agree with Rev. Mr. Bobbins 
as to the price of the aforesaid articles; and in case the 
said committee and Rev. Mr. Robbins could not agree upon 
the price, then the committee and Mr. Robbins should 
choose three judicious, indifferent men to determine the 
price. This last committee was to be chosen as follows: 
Mr. Robbins should select one, the committee one, and in 
case the minister and town committee could not agree as 
to the third, then the two so selected shall choose the third. 
This arrangement was carried out during a period of more 
than forty years. 

The history of the erection of the first meeting-house 
throws a good deal of light upon the pecuniary condition of 
the people of the town, and also their zeal and perseverance 
in their endeavors to provide for themselves the stated 
means of grace. This first house stood very nearly where 
this house now stands. In dimensions it was fifty feet by 
forty, and of suitable height for galleries, without a steeple. 
In 1759, two years previous to the settlement of Mr. Rob- 
bins, the house was raised and covered. In 1761, the year 
of kis ordination, it was underpinned and the lower fioor 
laid. Such was its condition when he was ordained in it. 
In 1767 the gallery floor was laid; 1769 the lower part of the 
house and the pulpit were finished. January 2, 1770, it was, 
in the words of the time, dignified and seated; that is, the 
places to be occupied by those of various ages determined, 
and individuals located in them, as is done now. The next 
year the galleries were completed, and a cushion for the 
pulpit procured. The outside was painted the color of a 
peach blossom. 

This house was removed 1813. At the time of its erec- 
tion and for years afterward it was so shut in by hemlock 
and maple trees that to one coming from the south it was 
not visible till he had reached the lower part of the present 
green, which was much encumbered with rocks. In this 



16 HISTORY OF }^OPtFOLK. 

building, while it was in process of erection as well as after 
completion, the people assembled summer and winter. No 
attempt to warm it was thought of. Attendance on public 
worship was in a sense required, for the town appointed 
certain persons whose duty it was to see that every one 
should attend who was without valid excuse, and also that 
every family be furnished with a copy of the Holy Scrip- 
tures. 

The church had no bell, and in those days clocks and 
watches were not very common. Some method of appris- 
ing the people when the hour for public worship had ar- 
rived was necessary. Accordingly I find in the town records 
that at a town meeting held June 24, 1760, the selectmen 
of the town were required to appoint some suitable person 
to give some suitable signal for the time to meet for public 
worship. This signal was for some time the blowing of a 
horn. 

Near the meeting-house there were erected what were 
called Sabbath-day-houses. There is a record of a vote 
granting leave to John Turner, Jedediah Richards, William 
Walter, Eli Pettibone and Nehemiah Lawrence to build a 
Sabbath-day-house and a horse-house on a part of the land 
that had been purchased as a site for the meeting-house. 
Voted also to grant the same leave to any other inhabitants 
of the town. The object of these houses was to furnish the 
owners of them, and such friends as they were disposed to 
invite, with a warm retreat in winter during the interval 
between the forenoon and afternoon public services. These 
houses generally consisted of two rooms, ten or twelve feet 
square, with a chimney in the center and a fireplace in each 
room. They were generally built at the expense of two or 
more families. Dry fuel was kept in them ready for kindling 
a fire. On the morning of the Sabbath the owmer of each 
room deposited in his saddle-bags, (for there was not a 
wheel vehicle for horses in the town until a comparatively 
recent period), the necessary refreshment for himself and 
family, and started early for church. He first called at the 
Sabbath-day-house, deposited his luncheon, built a fire, and 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 17 

then at the hour of worship they went to the meeting-house 
and endured the cold during the morning services. At noon 
they returned to the Sabbath-day-house, the contents of the 
saddle-bags were displayed on a little table, and all partook. 
Then at the time of the afternoon service they repaired 
again to the meeting, and if the weather were very severe 
they warmed themselves again at the Sabbath-day-house 
before setting out for home; extinguished the fire, locked 
the door an.d went their ways. 

The church was organized in 1760, the year previous to 
the settlement of Rev. Mr. Bobbins, and consisted of only 
twenty-three members. 

While thus providing themselves the means of religious 
instruction and improvement, and evincing such a sense 
of the importance of Christian institutions, though at the 
beginning the number of professors was not relatively large, 
the early inhabitants of this town were also alive to the 
value of education. Their interest in schools is very mani- 
fest from the records of the town, but their means were 
very limited and there was much to be done. The Bible, 
the New England Primer, Dilworth's Spelling Book and an 
elementary arithmetic called the Schoolmaster's Assistant 
were the school books in use. The children learned to write 
sometimes on birch bark and sometimes on paper, which 
was then a very scarce article. Ink was made of berries of 
sumach, and inkstands from the tips of cattle's horns. 

It is very difficult for us to imagine the actual condition 
of things during the early periods of the history of the 
town. The face of nature has undergone a great change. 
A large portion of the hills and valleys were covered with 
a dense forest. The roads were few compared with what 
they are now; narrow, and for the most part in miserable 
condition. 

They were bordered by the forest. The cleared portions 
were like patches on the general landscape. 

The population was much shut up from the world at 
large. The state of the roads between towns rendered com- 
munication difficult. All teaming was done by oxen. No- 



18 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

body used a horse except for riding under the saddle and 
pillion. 

Cloth of every description was manufactured in the 
family. There was no cotton in use. Woolen and linen 
were the staples. The wool was carded, spun, woven and 
dyed at home. The flax was hatcheled and spun and woven 
there also. The old-fashioned foot-wheels are yet to be 
found in the garrets of many houses. 

Communication by letters between different towns and 
different parts of the country was slow and uncertain. It 
was customary if a person was going to Hartford, Simsbury 
or elsewhere, for him to give out word some time before- 
hand, that any who might wish to send by him might have 
an opportunity to do so. The Hartford Courant was the 
only newspaper received by anybody for many years. It 
was brought by a post-boy, who rode on hoseback, once a 
week. There was no post-office in this town till 1803. The 
mail route from Hartford to Hudson was established some 
years previous. The mail was carried on horseback, and the 
letters for Norfolk were left at North Canaan post-office. 
Michael F. Mills, Esq., who died this year, was the first 
postmaster in this town. He had a table with a drawer 
divided into two compartments, one for letters to be sent 
and the other for those received. The information of events 
in different parts of the country travelled slowly, and it 
was often in the form of rumor, of which none had means of 
arriving at the exact truth. Intelligence from England was 
many months in reaching the colonies; and yet at the very 
time when the settlement of the town was commenced 
events of the most stirring character were taking place. 
The old French war was in progress. The colonies were 
exerting themselves to the utmost in aid of the mother 
country. Canada was in the hands of the French. In 1755 
four expeditions were planned in England against the 
French on this continent: one against Fort du Quesne, at 
the forks of the Ohio; one against Nova Scotia; one against 
Crown Point, and one against Fort Niagara. Two of these 
expeditions were successful, and two proved failures. That 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 19' 

against Crown Point was one of the successful expeditions. 
The Connecticut troops, one thousand, under Major General 
Lyman of Goshen, were there. In that year Connecticut 
sent two thousand troops into the field. The next year she 
raised 2.500. In 1758 Connecticut Colony voted to raise 
5000 troops and £30,000, lawful money. The next year she 
raised the same number of troops and £50,000. It was thus, 
in the midst of such events, that our fathers laid the founda- 
tions of society here. 

But I cannot go on further at present. We see much to 
commiserate in their condition, but also much to admire in 
their spirit and temper. Difficulties are good for men if they 
are of the right metal. It is in part to their very trials and 
hardships that our fathers were indebted for their practical 
energy and good sense. Thus they were prepared under 
Providence, to act so well their part, not only for them- 
selves but for their descendants, for their country, and for 
the world. I hope to continue this narrative hereafter. The 
day calls for the exercise of gratitude. To some it may 
seem that in the present condition of the country we have 
much reason for humility and penitence, but scarcely any 
for thanks. How abundant have been the harvests of the 
year everywhere; how general the prevalence of health; 
how undisturbed the land from serious internal dissensions, 
or threatening dangers from without. Does not all this 
furnish material for gratitude to the author of all our 
mercies. The very calamities that press upon the land, 
properly viewed, may be discovered to be mercies. The 
country was running mad in its eager haste for gain. Every- 
thing tended to materialize and degrade the feelings. 
The power of mammon was becoming greater and greater. 
Not only all elevated thoughts and sentiments were being 
crushed out, but under such influence crimes of every hue, 
fraud, deception, embezzlement, were becoming rife, and 
the public mind was coming to be accustomed to them as 
matters of course. A rebuke of some sort seemed to be 
necessary, something of sufficient force and extent to make 
a deep and general impression. By our follies and excesses 



20 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

we, as a people, have brought upon ourselves such a rebuke 
in the Providence of God. The lesson will cost much, but 
let us hope that it will be worth much to individuals, to 
communities and to the land. It should lead men to reflec- 
tion on something else than mere gain, and prepare the 
way for a general revival of religion in the country. No 
blessing could be more precious. If such be the design of 
God, as I think there are grounds to hope, then we may 
indeed thank God for our very troubles." (How truly pro- 
phetic were these words.) 



HI. 

EVENTS OF INTEREST IN THE TOWN UP TO THE TIME OF THE 
REVOLUTION ART WAR. 

By Rev. Joseph Eldridge, D.D. 

The next chapter in the history of this town, written by 
Dr. Eldridge, was delivered as a discourse on Thanksgiving 
Day, November 24, 1859, as follows: 

"In recounting the history of this place, I had reached, 
when I last spoke on the subject, the period of the 'Old 
French War,' as it was called; the war which England car- 
ried on against France from 1756 to 1763, and in which, 
aided by the colonies, she made conquest of Canada, wrest- 
ing entirely from the French government the whole of that 
vast territory. For this war, that resulted so favorably for 
Great Britain, the Colony of Connecticut had furnished, in 
proportion to her population and means, a larger number of 
soldiers and more money than any other colony; and as 
evidence of the strong sympathy of the colonies with the 
mother country, a day of public thanksgiving was observed 
throughout New England, on account of the success that 
had crowned the British arms. It is worth while to notice 
this circumstance, as we shall then be able to see how un- 
reasonable and how short-sighted were those measures 
adopted by the British government, that in a little more 
than ten years after the close of the French war, drove the 



HISTORY OF XORFOLK. 21 

colonies into rebellion, and led on to the war of the Revolu- 
tion. In this interval between 1763 and 1775, the affairs 
of the town gradually improved. 

The population increased, the lands were bought up, 
roads in different directions were laid out and opened. It 
is remarkable in looking over the town records to observe 
how much more frequently town meetings were holden than 
at the present time. There was a great deal of public busi- 
ness coming up and demanding attention. Then every- 
thing connected with the Ecclesiastical Society was done 
by the town. I will quote a few votes passed in town meet- 
ing that will serve as well as anything to assist us in re- 
calling those times. In a town meeting held in Norfolk 
April 23, 1762, lawfully assembled, Mr. William Walter, 
moderator, voted: That we will join with the town of 
Goshen in preferring a prayer to the honorable General 
Assembly to be holden in Hartford on the 14th day of May 
next, for liberty for a lottery to raise £100, lawful money, 
to be laid out in making and repairing public highways 
in said town of Norfolk. Voted, that Gapt. Samuel Petti- 
bone of Goshen be agent for said town to put in a prayer 
for said town, and manage the affair at the said Assembly 
for said town. 

This would indicate the scarcity of money. 

At an adjourned meeting of the inhabitants of the town 
of Norfolk lawfully assembled December 9, 1765, Capt. 
Abraham Camp, moderator, it was put to vote whether 
the town would do anything further towards finishing the 
meeting house. The house was begun in 1759, and in 1765, 
when the question of doing anything towards finishing it 
was put to vote in town meeting, it was voted that they 
would do something towards finishing it. It had been 
enclosed and floored, but was yet without regular slips, 
without a pulpit, and without any galleries. It was voted 
that a rate of two pence on the pound should be raised 
on the list of 1765, to be paid in good and merchantable 
pine boards, to be delivered at the meeting-house in said 
Norfolk at £1, 4s, per thousand, or in good bar iron 



22 HISTORY OF XOKFOLK. 

at £1, 4s, per hundred pounds, to be delivered at the 
said meeting-house, all at or before the 5th day of Sep- 
tember next, to be used and disposed of toward finishing 
said meeting-house; and Messrs. Joseph Seward, Giles Pet- 
tibone and Daniel Humphrey were chosen a committee to 
receive said boards and iron, and improve them for said 
use. Mr. Samuel Cowles was chosen a collector, to collect 
said rate. 

September 19, 1769, Capt. Abraham Camp, moderator, 
it was voted that the town will proceed to have the meet- 
ing-house seated, so soon as the seats in the lower part of 
the meeting-house are finished. It was now ten years since 
the house was begun. 

Voted, that Mr. Ezra Knapp, Capt. Isaac Holt, Titus 
Ives, Samuel Cowles, Daniel Humphrey, William Bishop 
and Elijah Grant be a committee to seat the meeting-house. 

Voted, that the rule for the seaters to go by shall be, 
that one year in age shall be counted equal to five pound 
list. Voted, that there shall not be but one head counted 
in any man's list in order to seating. Voted, that the seaters 
shall dignify the seats as they shall think proper. By dig- 
nifying the seats was intended, I suppose, arranging them 
according to their relative eligibility, or desirableness. 
This was the first seating of the meeting-house. The prac- 
tice has existed during the ninety years that have since 
elapsed. 

The matter of singing in the church, that stone of 
stumbling, and fertile source of trouble in most congrega- 
tions, but which so far as I learn has always been man- 
aged in this place so as to secure both social and musical 
harmony, received early attention in town meeting, where 
almost every affair sooner or later came under considera- 
tion. 

At a town meeting, Giles Pettibone, Esq., in the chair, 
it was Voted, That the town have a right to order and 
direct in respect to singing in public worship. Having 
laid down the principle, the meeting proceeded to appoint 
five choristers, viz.: Samuel Cowles, Jr., Andrew Moore, 



HISTOKY OF NORFOLK. 23 

Eliphalet Hatch, John Phelps and Joseph Mills, Jr. The 
reason for choosing so many leaders does not appear. It 
may have been an adroit measure to guard against the 
jealousy that might have been excited, had the whole honor 
of leading the choir been conferred upon one, instead of 
being subdivided among several. The choristers were thus 
chosen in town meeting from 1774 until 1790. No money 
was appropriated to improve the singing before 1798, when 
twelve dollars was voted for that purpose. In reviewing 
your father's efforts to provide themselves the means of 
public worship, viz., a religious teacher, a meeting-house, 
and the like, the first thought may be that these efforts were 
poor and feeble. The next and deeper thoughts will be, 
that they evince a high sense of the value of religious insti- 
tutions, and a steady zeal and perseverance worthy of all 
praise. Their circumstances were widely different in this 
respect from that of those who now go forth into the new 
settlements to lay the foundations of towns and cities. 
The latter leave behind them comparatively wealthy com- 
munities whose sympathies will accompany them, and 
whose contributions will aid in their early struggles, in 
sustaining their minister, in erecting their places of wor- 
ship, and in providing themselves the means of intellectual 
and religious education. Their condition is known all over 
the country. How different was the condition of the earlier 
settlers of Connecticut, especially of those whose lot was 
cast in this part of the state. They were alone in the wil- 
derness. Their communication with other places was slow, 
difficult and infrequent. They had no missionary society 
to present their condition to the congregations in the older 
settlements, to awaken sympathy and solicit and receive 
aid in their behalf. The whole country was relatively poor; 
it was all new, with everything to be done. The early in- 
habitants of these interior towns were in a great measure 
cut off from the rest of the world; they were thrown upon 
their own resources. If they had a minister they must get 
him and sustain him themselves. If they had a house to 
meet in, it must be such an one as they could erect them- 



24 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

selves, and it must be completed as soon as they, with all 
the other urgent demands upon their labor and means, 
should be able to finish it. But were they disheartened, 
because they must begin small and proceed slowly? No. 
In less than three years from the time that the first town 
meeting was held, 1758, they had a settled minister. Their 
meeting-house was begun in 1759; all they could do that 
year was to raise and enclose it. They met in it, or rather 
under it, in that state two years, till 1761, when the lower 
floor was laid and the building underpinned, and there 
then was another interval. Did it not show a noble spirit 
when they could do no more, yet to do the little they could? 
Such men must have placed a high estimate on the estab- 
lished means of grace. Were they mistaken? were they 
foolish to struggle so hard and so perseveringly in the mat- 
ter? Do you doubt whether the prayer offered and the wor- 
ship rendered to God in that floorless house was acceptable? 
The blessings we now enjoy are the fruit of their sacrifices 
and their prayers. 

But to return to the narrative: — At the close of the 
French war, 1763, during which the colonies had done good 
service, had contributed to the success of the British arms, 
and shared in the triumph, there prevailed in the colonies 
the best state of feeling toward the mother country and 
the English government. In a few years these loyal and 
fraternal sentiments gave place, first, to dissatisfaction, 
then to a sense of oppression, and finally to a determined 
purpose of resistance. 

How was the great, sad, and lamentable change brought 
about, and who were the responsible authors of it? It result- 
ed in the most natural way imaginable from the measures in 
reference to the colonies that the government of Great 
Britain thought proper to adopt. That government had 
from the beginning, by a system of enactments called 'the 
navigation laws,' monopolized the foreign trade of the 
colonies. They were not allowed to carry on any direct 
commerce with any other country than Great Britain. They 
.must sell to her what they wished to dispose of, and buy 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 25 

of her what they needed to purchase, although these arti- 
cles thus to be obtained from her were the product of other 
countries. This monopoly was oppressive, but having been 
accustomed to it from the outset, the colonies had learned 
to submit to it without complaint. But another new step 
which the home government proposed to take, and did take, 
created great dissatisfaction, and aroused a strong and set- 
tled purpose of resistance. That step was, to impose taxes 
upon them by act of Parliament, they having no represen- 
tation in Parliament. Briefly, it was taxation without rep- 
resentation. The colonies were not opposed to paying 
taxes, but they desired the privilege of voting them them- 
selves. They had thus taxed themselves very heavily dur- 
ing the French war. They had shown no disposition to 
shirk any burden, yet some men of despotic temper in the 
British government were not content to leave the colonies 
any voice as to what they should pay. That point it was 
asserted ought to be decided by Parliament, and the colo- 
nies must have nothing to do with the matter. The British 
government, it was claimed, had a right to put its hand 
into the pockets of the colonies, as often and as deeply as 
it, to its sovereign pleasure, might seem best. 

The colonies said, we are willing to contribute from 
our pockets, but we prefer not to have anybody's hands 
put into them but our own. 

Now it will be seen that the colonies were the very 
worst material to be found in the whole world, out of which 
to make mere drudges and slaves. They had not paid any 
tax at home without having the privilege of voting upon 
its necessity and amount. In town meetings or colonial 
legislatures they had, directly or by their representative, 
a voice in laying all taxes. For men thus accustomed to 
connect the right of being represented in each and every 
assembly that imposed taxes with the obligation to pay, 
to be told that they must allow Parliament to decide that 
matter, and that they must and should pay what Parlia- 
ment chose to demand, filled them with astonishment. It 
was a plain case of the most grievous oppression. 



26 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

They attempted to argue the case. Some of the ablest 
men iu the colonies presented in a clear and strong light 
the rights which belonged to them as constituent parts of 
the British Empire. The case appeared to them so plain 
that they could not doubt that the government would come 
to view it in the same manner. In this confident expecta- 
tion they were doomed to meet a sad disappointment. In- 
stead of yielding to the arguments presented and urged by 
the advocates of the rights and interests of the colonies, 
the government at home repelled them in a tone at once 
haughty and menacing, and insisted on prompt and uncon- 
ditional obedience to the acts of Parliament, — the stamp 
act, and others based on the same principle. The colonists 
hardly knew what to do or what to expect. They could 
hardly persuade themselves that the government would 
persist in the course it had adopted; that it would resort 
to force for the purpose of compelling them to submission. 
Their doubts on this point were ere long removed. They 
were constrained to conclude that there was no other alter- 
native but implicit obedience to the acts of Parliament, or 
open resistance to the whole power of England. 

On such times your ancestors fell, just as they were 
laying the foundations of society in this place. The first 
notice of these public affairs to be found in the records of 
the town, is as follows: — 

At a town meeting held at Norfolk, lawfully assembled 
June 30, 1774, Mr. Dudley Humphrey, moderator, the fol- 
lowing action was had: Taking into consideration the 
truly alarming, threatening steps and acts of the British 
Legislature, respecting our liberties, and, in a word, all 
that is dear both with regard to ourselves and all British 
America, the Resolves of our honorable House of Repre- 
sentatives being laid before the meeting were highly ap- 
proved of, Therefore, Voted, that the Resolves passed by 
the honorable House of Representatives of this Colony at 
Hartford, May last, be entered at large on the records of 
this town, as containing sentiments worthy to be ever 
abided by.' 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 27 

There were eleven of these Resolutions. The substantial 
point set forth in them was, that taxation and representa- 
tion were inseparably connected together; and that inas- 
much as the colonies were not represented in the Parlia- 
ment of Great Britain, Therefore, that Parliament had not 
the right to tax the colonies, — this being the matter chiefly 
insisted on in the Resolutions, as deemed important at the 
time. 

There were contained in the resolutions also expres- 
sions of loyalty to the British throne that it is not easy to 
realize were honestly entertained by the inhabitants of 
this very town. I will quote one or two of them. The first 
is in these terms: 

We do most expressly declare, recognize and acknowl- 
edge His Majesty, King George the Third, to be the lawful 
and rightful King of Great Britain and all other of his do- 
minions and countries, and that it is the indispensable duty 
of the people of this country, as being part of His Majesty's 
dominions, always to bear faithful and true allegiance to 
His Majesty, and him to defend to the utmost of their 
power against all attempts upon his royal person, crown 
and dignity.' After setting forth their rights as they re- 
gard them as British subjects in several particulars, they 
thus speak in the tenth resolution: 'We look upon the great- 
est security and well being of the colony to depend on our 
connection with great Britain, which it is ardently wished 
may continue to the latest posterity.' These were the hon- 
est sentiments of your ancestors, publicly expressed less 
than a century ago, on this very spot. How strange it ap- 
pears to us! What a change has in the meantime come 
about! 

The last resolution, the eleventh, is a noble one. It is 
in these terms: 'Resolved, that it is an indispensable duty 
which we owe to our King, our colony, ourselves, and our 
posterity, by all lawful ways and means in our power, to 
maintain, defend and preserve these our rights and lib- 
erties, and to transmit them entire and inviolate to the 
latest generation; and that it is our fixed determination and 



28 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

unalterable resolution faithfully to discharge this our duty.' 

The event proved how sincere they were in adopting 
this resolution. Who is not proud of such an ancestry? 
who will not thank God that the shaping of his earthly 
condition, the protection and preservation of his rights and 
liberties, were, before he saw the light, under God com- 
mitted to such hands? 

From these resolutions it appears that the colonies, — 
for similar resolutions were adopted in them all, — did not 
at the outset of their troubles aim at, or even desire, Inde- 
pendence. They sought not a separate national existence. 
Then in this resolution to defend and preserve inviolate 
their rights and liberties they could not foresee the result 
of their endeavor. They were not cheered by a prospect of 
the glorious result. They acted from a noble sense of duty, 
and trusted the result to God, and it far exceeded their 
most exalted anticipations. 

The meeting, at which the resolutions just referred to 
were endorsed by a unanimous vote of this town, was 
holden June 20, 1774. On the 20th of September of 
the same year at a town meeting of which Giles Pettibone, 
Esq., was chosen moderator, there was adopted a vote that 
was quite significant. 'Voted a rate of one-half penny on 
the pound, to be made on the list of 1773, to raise money 
to buy a town stock of powder, etc., for the town of Nor- 
folk.' "^ 

Nothing is said of the reason for providing the town 
with powder, etc., but coming soon after their expressed 
determination to maintain their rights and liberties, — it 
has a rather practical look. 

Previous to these troubles that sprung up between the 
colonies and the government at home, the colonies were 
politically independent of each other. They were mutually 
connected by no alliance. Very early after these troubles 
began, which was immediately on the close of the French 
war, 1763, the idea of a convention of representatives from 
the colonies, occurred to some leading minds; among others 
to James Otis of Boston. Such a convention was holden 



HISTORY OF NOEFOLK. 29 

in New York in October, 1765, and addressed an united 
petition to Parliament. The English statesmen at home 
thought that the colonies never would form any alliance. 
Lord Grenville had said that from jealousy of neighborhood 
and clashing interests the colonies never could form a dan- 
gerous alliance among themselves, but must permanently 
preserve their common connection with the mother country. 
In both particulars his prophecy was falsified. 

No other convention or congress of representatives was 
holden till September 5, 1774, when one was assembled at 
Philadelphia. In this congress all the colonies except 
Georgia were represented. Peyton Kandolph, one of the 
delegates from Virginia, was elected Prsident, and Charles 
Thompson, a citizen of Philadelphia, was chosen Secretary. 
The rule of proceeding adopted was, to allow each colony 
or province one vote in determining questions. - A com- 
mittee consisting of two from each colony was appointed 
to state the rights of the colonies in general, the instances 
in which those rights had been violated, and the means 
most proper to be pursued for obtaining a restoration of 
them. While this convention was in session at Philadel- 
phia, General Gage, the British general, was throwing up 
fortifications around Boston. The convention sent a re- 
monstrance to Gen. Gage, and passed a resolution approv- 
ing of the opposition of the inhabitants of Massachusetts 
to the execution of the late acts of Parliament, and de- 
claring that if the same shall be attempted to be carried 
into execution by force, in such case all America ought to 
support them in their opposition. The convention at Phila- 
delphia remained in session till October, when they adopted 
with great unanimity a series of resolutions in the same 
spirit with those that had been adopted in the General As- 
sembly of Connecticut, and they prepared addresses to the 
King, to the people of Great Britain, to the inhabitants of 
the colonies they represented, and to the inhabitants of 
the Province of Quebec. These addresses were admirable, — 
not merely for the clearness and firmness with which the 
rights of their country were vindicated, but for unexampled 



30 HISTOKY OF NORFOLK. 

elevation and dignity of sentiment, as well as energy and 
elegance of language. Lord Chatham said, *That though 
he had studied and admired the free states of antiquity, 
the master spirits of the world, yet for solidity of reason- 
ing force of sagacity, and wisdom of conclusion, no body 
of men could stand in preference to this Congress.' 

But what had all this to do with the inhabitants of 
this little town up among the mountains? The records of 
the town show that your ancestors here thought they were 
concerned. They were fully alive to what was going for- 
ward in England, at Boston, and in Philadelphia. 

The resolutions adopted at Philadelphia were scattered 
over the land, and everywhere met a most hearty response. 
The following entry is found in the records of this town: 
'At a town meeting held at Norfolk December 26th, 1774, 
Asahel Case was chosen moderator; Voted, that the re- 
solves and association of the Continental Congress, held at 
Philadelphia, September 5, 1774, are well approved of and 
agreed to be abided by, by said town, not one appearing in 
the negative.' And when the day of resolutions was passed, 
and that of action had arrived, we have evidence that the 
people of this place made good all their pledges. 

Jonathan Trumbull was then Governor of Connecticut. 
General Washington used, I believe, to speak of him as 
'Brother Jonathan,' and relied upon him with great con- 
fidence. He was always ready to lend all the help he could, 
and the people of his gallant little state were prompt in 
responding to calls for assistance, made by their beloved 
Governor. Various items in your town records show this. 
But time will not permit further details, except to refer to 
one circumstance; that is, that Rev. Mr. Bobbins, the first 
minister of this place, by the consent of the people, went for 
a time in the capacity of Chaplain in the Army. In the win- 
ter of 1775, an expedition was sent into Canada under the 
command of Brigadier General Richard Montgomery, who 
was to be aided by General Benedict Arnold, who was sent 
to meet him before Quebec. General Montgomery was an 
Englishman; he was under Wolf, who took Quebec, but on 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 31 

the breaking out of the Revolutionary war joined the Amer- 
icans, and was appointed one of the eight Brigadier Gen- 
erals under General Washington. He took Montreal, but 
in a night attack on Quebec, in December, failed and was 
killed. 

An attempt was made to reinforce Arnold. Troops 
were sent up from this state, and it was as Chaplain of the 
Connecticut recruits that Mr. Bobbins went. He left home 
March 18, 1776, and returned home October 31st. He made 
one flying visit to his family in the meantime. We cannot 
get anything like a correct idea of the early history of this 
town without keeping in mind the condition of the country 
at the time. Then we see how numerous were the difficul- 
ties with which they had to struggle, and how manfully 
they encountered them. 

One advantage of becoming familiar with the early his- 
tory of our town and our country will be to revive family 
ties, and to strengthen local attachment. I am gratified 
to see an increased disposition to trace out the genealogies 
of families, and to mark with monuments the places that 
have been rendered worthy of remembrance on account of 
the deeds that have distinguished them. 

Many causes have operated to weaken in our country 
the strength of natural ties, and to render us forgetful of 
our ancestors, and our kindred. 

The Revolutionary war seemed to cut us ofif from those 
families in England from whom our ancestors descended. 
Then families here seldom remain together on the same 
spot, or in the same neighborhood. They become scattered 
and soon forget each other. Everything that counteracts 
this tendency is to be welcomed as of good tendency. The 
memory of our ancestors is a legacy of value, and we ought 
not to be indifferent to the place where they lived, labored, 
died, and where their bones repose. 

I wish we had more love of our native towns and coun- 
try. Such feelings are not poetical moonshine. They are 
natural and manly sentiments. They are worthy of culti- 
vation. I hope as time rolls on, and the science and art 



32 HISTOEY OF NOEFOLK. 

of agriculture shall be improved, that there will be less 
pulling up and going to the everlasting West, leaving our 
old homesteads to degenerate under the semi-barbarous 
usage of foreigners. We have a lovable country; that is, 
one that is suited to enlist the affections. When men shall 
learn that it can be made fertile with proper care; that it 
is wise to invest their surplus earnings, not in getting more 
land, but in improving what they have; that such invest- 
ments are the safest in the long run, the most productive; 
then we shall not go out to settle on the dead flats of west- 
ern prairies, where there is no more difference between 
farms than between two eggs. Who can love one quarter 
section rather than another? The farms have no features; 
nothing to distinguish them. 

The Scotchman loves his wild mountains and lakes. 
The Swiss cling with an undying affection to his heaven 
towering Alps. The hills and valleys around us, our clear, 
swift streams present pictures to the eye. Every farm is 
an individual thing; and when the whole has been adorned 
by a more generous cultivation, and by public spirit; and 
when we think of the rich associations that the fathers 
have left upon it, who will not say that the lines have fallen 
to us in pleasant places, and that we have a goodly heri- 
tage? Let us thank God for it, and for our fathers, who in 
their day performed their duty. Let us cultivate a local 
spirit, and strive to transmit the place improved in all re- 
spects to our descendants." 

"Breathes there a man with soul so dead, 
Who never to himself hath said, 
This is my own, my native land?" 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 33 



IV. 



CONNECTICUT'S EARLY TOWN SYSTEM — SETTLEMENT OF FIRST TOWNS 
IN LITCHFIELD COUNTY — GRANT OF YHE "WESTERN LANDS," 
WHICH BECAME THIRTEEN TOWNS, TO THE TOWNS OF HARTFORD 
AND WINDSOR — LONG CONTROVERSY BETWEEN THE COLONY AND 
THOSE TOWNS — ORGANIZATION OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY — FINAL 
SALE AND SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN AND ITS INCORPORATION — 
ORIGINAL PETITIONS. 

In a history of Norfolk, Connecticut, which is a child of 
Windsor and Hartford, — the first towns settled in the state, 
— and so but a grandchild of the original settlement of the 
Puritans at Plymouth, Massachusetts, it seems appropriate 
to speak briefly of Connecticut's town system, which has 
been of more importance in the formation of our general 
government, and had a far wider influence than many of us 
at the present day are aware. 

Professor Johnston of Princeton, N. J., in his very valu- 
able work, '^American Commonwealths," in the preface to 
his ''Connecticut," says: — 

"The institution of towns had its origin in Massachusetts. 
Connecticut's town system was more independent of out- 
side action than that of Massachusetts. The principle of 
local government had here a more complete recognition, 
and in the form in which it has done best service, its begin- 
ning was in Connecticut. The first conscious and delib- 
erate effort on this continent to establish the democratic 
principle in control of government was the settlement of 
Connecticut, and her Constitution of 1639, the first written 
and democratic constitution on record, was the starting 
point for the democratic development, which has since 
gained control of all commonwealths, and now makes the 
essential feature of our commonwealth government. . . . 
The Connecticut delegates in the Convention of 1787 held 
a position of unusual influence. The frame of their com- 



^4 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

monwealth government, with its equal representation of 
towns in one branch, and its general popular representa- 
tion in the other, had given them a training which enabled 
them to bend the form of our National Constitution into a 
corresponding shape; and the peculiar constitution of our 
Congress, in the different bases of the Senate and House of 
Representatives, was the result of Connecticut's long main- 
tenance of a federative democracy." 

Regarding the formation of Connecticut's Constitution 
referred to by Professor Johnston, it appears that on Jan- 
uary 14, 1639, all the ^'freemen" of Windsor, Hartford and 
Wethersfleld met ''to constitute a public state or common- 
wealth," by voluntary combination, as they termed it, and 
"to settle its plan of government." They had no precedent 
to follow. They must, as it were, "blaze the way," led by 
the one all controlling purpose of their lives, which had 
caused them to leave home and native land, to cross the 
trackless ocean, and to settle here on these wild western 
shores, in order that they might secure first of all "freedom 
to worship God according to the dictates of their own con- 
sciences," and to establish a government, "of the people, 
by the people, and for the people," for themselves and their 
posterity. 

The instrument framed at this time by these, the first 
settlers in Connecticut, has been called, "the first example 
in history of a written constitution ; a distinct, organic law, 
constituting a government and defining its powers." Bryce, 
in his "American Commonwealths," says: "The oldest truly 
political constitution in America is the instrument called 
the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, framed by the in- 
habitants of Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield in 1639." 
As we may later on refer to some of the provisions of this 
constitution, under which with but little alteration for one 
hundred and eighty years, the colony and state of Connec- 
ticut prospered and progressed, it may be permitted to add 
that under it, "all persons to possess the franchise should 
be admitted to it by the freemen of the towns, and take 
an oath of allegiance to the commonwealth." (In the Mas- 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 35 

sachusetts settlements at that time the civil franchise was 
based on church membership.) ''There should be two meet- 
ings of the freemen (elections we call them) in a year. At 
the one to be holden in April they should elect a Governor, 
and not fewer than six other Magistrates; that at the same 
time there should be elections of Deputies, — four to be sent 
from each of the existing towns, and as many as the Gen- 
eral Court should determine, from towns subsequently con- 
stituted. That the General Court, consisting of the Gov- 
ernor and at least four Magistrates and a majority of Depu- 
ties, should have power to make laws for the whole juris- 
diction, to grant levies, admit freemen, dispose of lands 
undisposed cf lo the several towns or persons, to call either 
Court, or Magistrate, or any other person whatsoever into 
question, for any misdemeanor and to deal in any other 
matter that concerned the good of the commonwealth. 'In 
the absence of special laws, the rule of the word of God 
was to be followed.' The Governor was not re-eligible for 
election until a year after the expiration of his term of 
office/' etc. 

The first mention we have found of the settlement of 
any of the towns in Litchfield County, as this county is 
now constituted, is that of the town of Woodbury, which 
was settled in 1672, incorporated as a town in 1674, first 
represented in the General Court 1684. Woodbury orig- 
inally included the towns of Washington, Bethlehem, 
Southbury and Roxbury. Of the twenty-eight towns in the 
entire colony, Woodbury was the only town in Litchfield 
County that was represented in the General Court at Hart- 
ford in May, 1700. Litchfield County was organized in Oc- 
tober, 1751. At the session of the General Court in Octo- 
ber, 1703, it is recorded that, "This court doe grant to the 
town of Milford, purchasers of a tract of land of the Indians 
(which land lieth at Wiantenuck) for a township liberty, ac- 
cording to their purchase to take out a pattent signed by the 
Governor and Secretary, under the seal of the Colonic, that 
they doe make a settlement upon said land within five years. 
The name of the said town to be New Milford." 



36 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

At the May session, 1719: — Upon the petition of Lieut. 
John Marsh of Hartford, and Dea. John Buell of Lebanon, 
with many others, praying liberty under committees ap- 
pointed by the towns of Hartford and Windsor, to settle 
a town westward of Farmington at a place called Bantam: 
''This Assembly doe grant liberty and full power unto the 
said John Marsh, John Buell and partners, settlers, being 
in the whole fifty-seven in number, to settle a town at said 
Bantam; . . . said town to be known by the name of 
Litchfield." Mention of the tract of land which included 
Norfolk follow^s the above: "And forasmuch as there is a 
large tract of land that lieth eastward, westward and north- 
wardly of said town, being bounded eastward by Farming- 
ton and Symsbury, and from thence extending northward 
unto the Massachusetts line, by which line the tract is 
bounded north, and westwardly by the colony line, and 
southwardly by Waterbury, Litchfield and Woodbury, and 
from Woodbury town line unto the said colony line; to the 
end that the said tract of land may be improved for the 
good of the colony and be regularly settled, — be it enacted 
by the Governor (etc.), — that the whole of said tract of land 
shall lie for the further dispose of this Assembly." This 
"large tract of land" comprised what w^as afterward laid 
out and settled as the towns of Kent, Cornwall, Canaan, 
Salisbury, Norfolk, Goshen, Winchester, New Hartford, 
Torrington, Harwinton, Hartland, Colebrook and Bark- 
hampsted. A serious controversy regarding this land arose 
between the General Court on one side and the towns of 
Hartford and W^indsor on the other, caused by a grant of 
the entire tract to Hartford and Windsor by the General 
Court, in January, 1686. The occasion for this grant was 
as follows: — 

Sir Edmund Andros had been governor of New York for 
about eight years from 1678, and his arbitrary and oppres- 
sive acts had made him very obnoxious in all the colonies. 
In 1685 Andros was appointed by the British crown, gov- 
ernor of New England. Fearing that Andros might take 
possession of this unconveyed tract of land, and by its sale 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 37 

enrich himself and his friends, the General Court in Jan- 
uary, 1686, made a conveyance or grant of the entire tract 
to "the plantations of Hartford and Windsor," doubtless 
intending that those towns should hold the lands in trust 
for the further disposal of the colony when the danger from 
Andros' power should have passed by, but failing (perhaps 
fearing) so to express it in the conveyance, it was main- 
tained, at a considerably later period, that it was a valid 
grant of the entire tract to the two towns. 

This "grant" as found in the Colonial Records of Con- 
necticut, is as follows: "A special General Court, held at 
Hartford, January 26, 1686: This Court grants the planta- 
tions of Hartford and Windsor those lands on the north of 
Woodbury and Mattatuck and on the west of Farmington 
and Simsbury, to the Massachusetts. line north, and to run 
west to Housatunock or Stratford River (provided it be 
not, or part of it, formerly granted to any particular per- 
sons), to make a plantation or villages thereon." In a foot- 
note in this Colonial Record, transcribed by J. Hammond 
Trumbull, he says: "The General Court, in anticipation of 
the loss of the charter by a judgment on the Quo Warranto, 
or of being compelled to surrender it to Andros, now took 
such measures as were in their power to secure the colony 
against the future exactions of an arbitrary governor. . . 
The grant now recorded to Hartford and Windsor, to make 
a plantation or villages, was intended to put all the vacant 
lands west of the Connecticut to the Housatonic beyond 
the reach of Andros or other similarly commissioned gov- 
ernor. The expedient was, in its immediate results, effec- 
tual; but at a later period (1722-1726) this grant was the 
occasion of long and angry controversy between the towns 
of Hartford and Windsor, and the colony." 

Concerning this controversy, in his "History of Norfolk," 
Roys says: "They (the towns) had never purchased nor 
given the least valuable consideration for them (the lands), 
and had no valid deeds or patents of them." Yet, as ap- 
pears by the record, and as given in full above, the Gen- 
eral Court at a special session held January 26, 1686, did 



38 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

"grant the plantations of Hartford and Windsor those 
lands, ... to make a plantation or villages thereon." 
At the time of the controversy, nearly forty years had 
passed since the date of the grant, and the active partici- 
pants in the matter had most of them, perhaps all of them, 
passed away, and a new generation was upon the stage of 
action. It is not surprising that this new generation should 
insist that the grant meant what it plainly said. Self in- 
terest was doubtless as strong a motive power then as it 
is in the end of the nineteenth century. Continuing, Roys 
says: "By virtue of the above grant they laid claim to all 
the lands within the limits expressed, and in violation of 
the most explicit laws of the colony they proceeded to lo- 
cate and vend the lands in controversy. 

"The governor and company still claimed the lands as 
firmly as if no grant had been made to those towns, and 
some of the principal innovators were arrested and pun- 
ished by the superior court, and some of them were com- 
mitted to the common prison at Hartford. The contention 
finally rose so high that quite a number of persons col- 
lected in a riotous manner, and even while the assembly 
were in session they went forward, broke open the jail and 
set those prisoners at liberty. The sheriff of the county of 
Hartford was ordered to pursue, apprehend and re-commit 
them, and was authorized, if necessary, to call out the mili- 
tia of the county to assist him." At the October session 
of the General Court in 1724, in the Colonial Records it is 
recorded that: "Upon consideration of the memorial of Hon. 
Joseph Talcott, Esq., and others, proposing that the dif- 
ference in the colony about the ancient grant of the western 
lands to the towns of Hartford and Windsor may be ami- 
cably composed, praying the Assembly to appoint a com- 
mittee to meet with a committee from said towns upon said 
affairs, this Assembly do appoint and impower James 
Wadsworth, John Hall, and Hez. Brainerd, Esqrs., to be the 
committee of the government on the affairs referred to in 
the petition, and report to this Assembly in May next the 
propositions which they may receive and make, ... in 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 39 

order to this Assembly settling and quieting that diflSculty." 
The above committee reported at the May session, 1726, as 
follows: ^'Proposed to the committee of Hartford and 
Windsor; that the whole tract of land claimed by said 
towns be equally divided between the government and said 
towns, in the following manner to be done: I. That the 
government have the western side thereof and said towns 
to have the eastern side thereof. . . . The above proposal 
. . . this Assembly do accept, and James Wadsworth, 
John Hall and Hez. Brainerd, Esqrs., are appointed to be a 
committee to join with such committees as Hartford and 
Windsor shall appoint, to make a division of said lands." 

At the Litchfield County Centennial celebration, held in 
Litchfield, August, 1851, Hon. Samuel Church, LL.D., Chief 
Justice of the state, gave the principal address. Referring 
to this old controversy. Judge Church said: 'Trevious to 
the accession of James IL to the throne of England, and 
before our chartered rights were threatened by the arrival 
of Sir Edmund Andros, the territory now comprising the 
County of Litchfield, was very little known to the Colonial 
Government at Hartford. The town of W^oodbury, then 
large in extent, had been occupied some years earlier than 
this by Rev. Mr. Walker's congregation from Stratford. 
The other parts of the County were noticed only as a wil- 
derness, and denominated the 'Western Lands.' Still it 
was supposed that at some time they might be to some ex- 
tent inhabited and worth something. At any rate, they 
were believed to be worth the pains of keeping out of the 
way of the new government of Sir Edmund, which was 
then apprehended to be near. To avoid his authority over 
these lands, and to preserve them for a future and better 
time of disposal, they were granted by the Assembly of the 
Colony, to the towns of Hartford and Windsor, in 1686, at 
least so much of them as lay east of the Housatonic river. 

'*! do not stop to examine the moral quality of this grant, 
which may be reasonably doubted. It was soon after (more 
than thirty years) followed by the usual consequences of 
grants denominated by lawyers, constructively fraudulent, 



40 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

dispute and contention. Years afterward the Colonial As- 
sembly attempted to resume this grant, and to reclaim the 
title of these lands for the Colony. This was resisted by 
the towns of Hartford and Windsor, which relied upon the 
inviolability of plighted faith and public grants. The 
towns not only denied the right, but actually resisted the 
power of the Assembly, in the resumption of their solemn 
deed. This produced riots, and attempts to break the jail 
in Hartford, in which several of the resisting inhabitants 
of Hartford and Windsor were confined. 

"It would be difficult for the Jurists of the present day, 
educated in the principles of Constitutional Law, to justify 
the Assembly in the recision of its own grant; and it can- 
not but excite a little surprise.that the politicians of that 
day, who had not yet ceased to complain of the mother 
country for its attempts, by writs of quo warranto, to seize 
our charter, should so soon be engaged, and without the 
forms of law, too, in attempts of a kindred character against 
their own grantees. No wonder that resistance followed, 
and it was more than half successful, as it resulted in a 
compromise, which confirmed to the claimants under the 
towns, the lands in the town of Litchfield and a part of the 
town of New Milford. The other portions of the territory 
were intended to be equally divided between the Colony 
and the claiming towns. Torrington, Barkhamsted, Cole- 
brook, and a part of Harwinton, were appropriated to 
Windsor; Hartland, Winchester, New Hartford, and the 
other part of Harwinton were relinquished to Hartford, 
and the remaining lands in dispute, now constituting the 
towns of Norfolk, Goshen, Canaan, Kent, Sharon and 
Salisbury, were retained by the Colony." 

Although the Assembly accepted the report of the com- 
mittee for an equal division of the lands, between the 
Colony and the towns, and appointed a committee to make 
the division, about twelve years passed before the matter 
was finally adjusted. At the October session, 1738, the As- 
sembly ratified and confirmed the doings of the committees 
that had made the division, and directed the Governor or 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 41 

Deputy Governor to execute a patent of the lands, called 
"Waramaug's Reserve," to the proprietors of the towns 
of Hartford and Windsor ; and so the long controversy was 
''amicably composed." 

Trumbull, in his "Memorial History of Hartford County," 
says: "On the division of the 'Western Lands' in 1726, the 
township of Litchfield, and seven other townships in the 
eastern part of the territory which now constitutes Litch- 
field County, were conceded to the towns of Hartford and 
Windsor; and by mutual agreement between those towns 
in 1732, the inhabitants of Hartford became sole owners of 
Uartland, Winchester, New Hartford, and half of Harwin- 
ton; and the inhabitants of Windsor had Colebrook, Bark- 
hamsted, Torrington, and the west half of Harwinton. 
Each tax-payer in Hartford and Windsor became the pro- 
prietor of a share in one or other of the seven new town- 
ships. Winchester was first surveyed and laid out in 1758, 
and the owners of the wild territory belonged in Hartford, 
whence many of the settlers came. It was incorporated in 
1771. New Hartford was settled about 1733, and as its 
name would signify, its early inhabitants were from Hart- 
ford. . . . The first settlement of Norfolk, which began 
in 1744, was by men from Hartford and Windsor." 

The laying out of the College land in this town is of 
interest. At the October session, 1732, "upon the memorial 
of Rev. Mr. Samuel Andrew and others, trustees of Yale 
College, this Assembly do grant and order, that in each 
of the five new townships lately laid out East of the Ousa- 
tunnuck river, there shall be laid out in one entire piece, 
three hundred acres of land, to be laid out at a distance 
from the several town platts; which tracts of land, con- 
taining in the whole fifteen hundred acres, shall, when laid 
out, be by a patent under the seal of this Colony, granted 
and confirmed to the trustees of said College, to have and 
to hold to them and their successors, trustees of said Col- 
lege, for the only and sole use benefit and behoof of said 
school forever, and to no other use." This College land 
was accordingly laid out in the north-western part of the 
town, near or toward the Canaan town line. 



42 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

After the long controversy over these lands had been 
settled, their attention was turned to dividing into "rights," 
as they termed it, making sale of and settling these new 
towns. At the October session, 1737, it was enacted: ^'Tliat 
all the townships in the western lands, on both sides the 
Ousatunnuck river, be disposed of and settled, and that 
each town on the east side of said river shall be divided 
into fifty-three rights, exclusive, of the lands granted to 
the College, ... of which fifty-three rights, one shall 
be for the use of the ministry forever that shall be settled in 
the town according to the constitution and order of the 
churches established by the laws of the government: one 
for the first gospel minister settled as aforsaid; and one 
right for the support of the school in said town. . . . And 
the remaining fifty rights in said towns shall be sold at 
public vendue to the highest bidders, being of his 
Majestie's subjects, inhabitants of this colony, that 
will settle and inhabit at least three years in such towns, 
and to no other persons. . . . It is further enacted that 
. . . every purchaser shall be obliged within three years 
next after their purchase to build and finish an house of 
eighteen feet square, and seven feet stud; and to subdue 
and fence at least six acres of land in such town where he 
is settled or hath fixed his agent. . . . Agreeable to which 
it is further enacted that the northeastern township ... be 
sold at Hartford, at the court house to the highest bidders 
... on the second Tuesday of April next, . . . and 
that a committee be appointed to sell and assign the rights, 
. . . and take bonds with surety of the purchasers for 
the money bidden, and give deeds, in manner and form as 
hereafter in this act directed." 

At the May session, 1738, it was enacted, *'That the town- 
ship at Hartford, by order of this Assembly upon the sec- 
ond Tuesday of April last, shall be called and known by 
the name of Norfolk" (possibly from the name of Norfolk 
County, England). It was further enacted that "the pur- 
chasers shall have liberty to assemble themselves, notice 
being first given, to choose their clerk (who shall take a 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 43 

prescribed oath), ... to make partition of said land, and 
to lay out the three public lots in said township, to choose 
committees, levy taxes, etc., ... as the proprietors of 
common and undivided lands in any town in this Colony 
may do." 

At the same session it was further enacted: "That the 
five townships lying on the east side of Ousatunnuck river, 
namely, Goshen, Canaan, Cornwall, Kent and Norfolk, are 
hereby annexed to the county of Hartford." 

At the October session, 1738, the committee who sold 
the town of Norfolk in April previous reported that, "Ac- 
cording to your direction we sold the town on the west of 
Colebrook for about £180 per lot, and not having time that 
day to finish the writings, ... the next day . . . they 
all but one (Timothy Horsford), who had taken a deed be- 
fore, declined taking their deeds." 

"Upon the above report, resolved by this Assembly, that 
the sale of the above mentioned township be deferred till 
this Assembly shall give further order in that affair." 

For twelve years nothing seems to have been done 
toward selling the town. Roys says: "There were so many 
townships offered for sale which were considered far pref- 
erable, both as to soil and situation, that when it was first 
set up at vendue, one bidder only appeared and bid off a 
small part of it." 

At the May session, 1750, an order for the sale of the 
town was made, for the third Wednesday of December next, 
but the sale was postponed by order of the session in Oc- 
tober of the same year. At the same (October) session Capt. 
Roger Wolcott and Mr. Thomas Seymour were appointed a 
committee, "to take effectual care of the township of Nor- 
folk, and that no trespasses be committed upon the lands 
or timber growing thereon, and to prosecute to final judg- 
ment and execution every person who shall in anywise 
trespass thereupon." 

At the October session, 1751, it was enacted that: "The 
townships of Litchfield, Woodbury, New Milford, Harwin- 
ton, New Hartford, Barkhampsted, Hartland, Colebrook, 



44 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Norfolk, Canaan, Salisbury, Kent, Sharon, Cornwall, 
Goshen, Torrington and Winchester, lying in the north- 
westerly part of this colony, shall be and remain one entire 
county, and be called the County of Litchfield, . . . and 
to include the towns above mentioned." At both the May 
and October sessions of 1754, orders of sale of the town of 
Norfolk were made and some rights were sold in that year, 
and at the May session, 1755, "Seventeen pounds, eight 
shillings and five pence, lawful money, was granted to the 
committee, for their service in said affair." 

After a struggle to settle and form a town, which had 
lasted about twenty years, at the October session, 1758, "On 
the memorial of John Turner, Jedediah Richards, Ebenezer 
Burr, and others, all of Norfolk in the county of Litchfield, 
showing to this Assembly that there are settled in safd 
township forty-three families ; praying that said inhabitants 
may have town privileges as other towns in this colony have, 
and also have power to procure the Gospel to be preached 
among them, as by their memorial on file appears. Resolved 
by this Assembly, that the said memorialists and others, 
inhabitants of said Norfolk, be, and they are hereby made 
and created an entire town, by the name of the town of 
Norfolk in the County of Litchfield. And this Assembly do 
also grant to said town of Norfolk all such rights, powers, 
privileges and immunities as each or any of the towns in 
this Colony by law already have. And that Mr. George 
Palmer and Mr. Ezra Knap, both of said town, be, and they 
are hereby appointed and impowered, to give due warning 
and notice to all the inhabitants of said town, to meet at 
some suitable place in said town, on the second Tuesday 
of December next, and when met, to choose all such town 
officers as the other towns in this Colony by law have right 
to choose and appoint." 

The following petitions, copied from the original docu- 
ments in the archives of the state, are of interest, and al- 
though in some instances involving a repetition to some 
extent of matter found elsewhere, are inserted, giving, as 
they do, a correct list of the original settlers of the town, 
etc.: 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 45 

Petition of Timothy Horsford for extension of time of payment 

of bonds. 

"To ye Honorable General Assembly of his Majesties Collony of 
Connecticut, Convened in New Haven October 18, 1739. 

"The memorial of Timothy Horsford of the northern Township 
in this Government sold at Arford by an act of Assembly holden in 
New Haven October 13, 1787, humbly showeth: That whereas ye 
memorialist having purchased one 53d part of s'd township and 
taken a deed thereof from the Gov. and Company of this Collony at 
£ 170, and given bonds with sureties for payment thereof and also 
for settling the same according to s'd act of Assembly; but for as 
much as the other parts of s'd township are not sold and conveyed, 
ye memorialist is wholly deprived of the benefit of his purchase, and 
the time of payment drawing near, and ye memorialist being the 
only proprietor that took a deed, &c., 

Prayes that this Honorable Assembly would consider the loan- 
some and disapointed circumstances of ye memorialist being obliged 
to dwell there alone, and nott knowing where to pitch or to improve, 
nor who will have the benefit of his labours, when the s'd township 
shall be divided;— and grant relief, either by granting libertie for ye 
memorialist to lay out to himself on his own right 200 acres of land 
in order to settle himself with one neighbour, or defer the time of 
payments for s'd land until those that shall purchase the other of 
s'd rights may be obliged to make their payments, and abate the 
interest that the land will draw to that time, and nott make ye me- 
morialist alone suffer for the neglect of others who were fellow pur- 
chasers, and have hitherto refused or neglected to take deeds and 
give security, or in some other way grant ye memorialist some re- 
lief; and ye memorialist as in duty bound, &c."' 

TIMOTHY HORSFORD. 

New Haven October 18, 1739. 

"In ye Lower House, on ye within memorial granted yt. the time 
of payment be deferred for ye term of four years, and that ye interest 
thereof be abated for sd time, provided sd memorialist find sufficient 
security &c to ye acceptance of ye committee that sold &c and all at 
ye cost of ye memorialist, and that a bill be drawn in form." 

Test ANDREW BURR Clerk. 

Concurred in the Upper House. 

Test GEORGE WYLLYS Sect. 

From the original petition in the State archives at Hartford. 



46 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

"Petition to set up the order of the Gospel amongst us." 

"To the Honorable the General Assembly to be held at New 
Haven on the 12th day of October next; a memorial of us the sub- 
scribers, inhabitants of Norfolk in Litchfield county, humbly showeth 
&c this honorable Assembly that we are settled here about 43 fami- 
lies, agreeable to the act of Assembly, and we are destitute of town 
privileges, and therefore we pray if your honors would be pleased 
to grant unto us town privileges so as the rest of the towns of the 
colony have, and so set up the order of the Gospel amongst us; and 
your memorialists bound in duty forever pray. 

Dated in Norfolk the 21 day of September 1758. 

Jed Richards Joseph Mills 

James Benedict Jedediah Turner 
Justis Gaylord by his attorney 

David Turner Samuel Cowls 

Thomas Dickinson David Phelps 

by his attorney John Turner 

Ezra Knapp William Barbur 

Cornelius Dowd Elijah Barbur 

Asahel Case James Hotchkiss 

by his attorney Enos Hotchkiss 

Isaac Pettibone Abraham Knap 

Samuel Mills Elisha Richards 

Rufus Lawrence Ebenezer Burr 

Eli Pettibone Luther Barbur 

Zadok Knapp Giles Pettibone 

John Turner Jr. Samuel Arnold 

Sam'l Gaylord Aaron Aspinwell 

by his attorney Gideon Lawrence 

Cornelius Brown Amiriah Plumb." 

Past in the Lower House. 

Test J. Huntington Clerk. 
Concurred in the Upper House. 
Test George Wyllys Sect." 

From the original petition in the state archives in the State 
Capitol at Hartford. 



Petitioners for Town Meeting. 

"Upon consideration the Honorable General Assembly should re- 
fuse to grant to us the subscribers our memorial incorporating us as 
a town, we humbly pray that your honors would be pleased to ap- 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 



47 



point Mr. George Palmer, Mr. Ezra 
Norfolk to give out warning for a 
choice of town oflScers. In witness 
day of October. 1758." 

John Turner 
Eli Pettibone 
Sam'l Arnold 
Thomas Dickinson 

by his attorney 
Isaac Knapp 
Amariah Plumb 
James Benedict 
Jediah Turner 

by his attorney 
Elishah Richards 
Giles Pettibone 
Ebenezer Burr 
Samuel Mills 



Knapp and Mr. Asel Case all of 
town meeting and lead us to a 
whereof we set our hands this 7 

Cornelius Dowd 
Justis Gaylord 
Jed'h Richards 
John Turner Jr. 
Aaron Aspenwall 
James Hotchkiss 
David Turner 
Samuel Gaylord 

by his attorney 
Isaac Pettibone 
Cornelius Brown 
Samuel Cowls 
Joseph Mills 
David Phelps." 



From the original petition in the State Archives at Hartford. 



Petition for town privileges. 

"To the Honorable, the General Assembly of the Collony of 
Connecticut now sitting in Hartford in Hartford County, on the 
12th day of May 1757: Wee the subscribers all of Norfolk in the 
county of Litchfield, humbly pray this Honorable Assembly to grant 
unto us and ye rest of ye inhabitants of sd town all the privileges 
and immunity proper to a town and such as the rest of ye towns in 
this Collony enjoy, in order to our regular proceeding in and doing 
ye public bisnes proper and nessary for a town to do. And wee 
being 24 families settled in sd town, and about one hundred and 
fifty persons; the granting of which we are humbly of opinion will 
be of grate advantage to sd town and promote ye welfare theirof." 



Dated in Norfolk May ye 11th 1757. 



In the Lower House 
The prayer of this 
memorial Negatived. 



Test J. Huntington Clerk. 



John Turner 
Jed Richards 
John Turner Jr. 
Samuel Gaylord 
David Lawrence 
Jedediah Turner 
Justice Gaylord. 



From the original manuscript, in the archives of the State, at 
Hartford. 



48 HISTOKY OF NORFOLK. 

FROM THE STATE RECORDS. 
Enactments Relating to Norfolk. 

Captain Giles Pettibone and Mr. William Walter, Representa- 
tives for Norfolk. January, 1778. 

"Whereas, It is recommended by Congress to the respective 
States to cause subscriptions to be opened under the inspection of 
some suitable person in each town, for supplies for the war on loan 
office certificates, specifying the names of the lenders and the sum 
they are willing to lend, and that copies of such subscription papers 
shall from time to time be delivered to the respective commissioners 
of the Continental loan office, and by them transmitted to Congress; 
provided that no certificate shall issue for less than Two Hundred 
Dollars:— Resolved, That Titus Ives, in the town of Norfolk • • * is 
hereby appointed, impowered and directed to open subscriptions in 
that town for the purpose recommended as aforesaid," etc. 

"This Assembly do establish Elkanah Phelps to be Ensign of the 
North Company or Trainband, in the town of Norfolk, in the 14th 
Regiment in this State. 

"This Assembly do establish Andrew Kingsbury to be Ensign of 
the First Company or Trainband in the 14th Regiment in this State." 
January 1778. 

"Voted, That Mr. William W'hiting, one of the overseers of 
Salisbury furnace be impowered and directed to purchase one hogs- 
head of New England, and one barrel of West India rum for the 
use of the workmen at said furnace on the best terms he may be 
able." F'ebruary 1778. 

Mr. Rosea Wilcox, Mr. Asahel Humphrey, Representatives for 
Norfolk, October 1778. 

"This Assembly do establish Titus Ives to be Captain of the 
9th Company or Trainband in the 14th Regiment in this State. 

"This Assembly do establish Elkanah Phelps to be Lieutenant, 
and Isaac Holt to be Ensign of the 9th Company or Trainband in 
the 14th Regiment in this State." 

Mr. Dudley Humphrey, Capt. Michael Mills, Representatives for 
Norfolk, May 1779. 

"An Act for making and naming a new District for a Court of 
Probate in this State. 

"Be it enacted, etc. That the towns of Norfolk, Colebrook and 
Winchester, shall be one entire district for a Court of Probate, and 
shall be called and known by the name of the District of Norfolk, 
and that in said district there shall be a court of probate held by one 
judge, to be appointed and commissioned for that purpose according 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 49 

to law ; * * * which court shall have and exercise the same powers, ' 
authorities and privileges that the other courts of probate in this State 
have, and are vested with." 

"Total of the list of the town of Norfolk in the State of Con- 
necticut as taken upon the 20th day of August, 1788." 

"£10029 7s. lid. Single additions £76. Fourfold Assessments 
£156." 



HOW THE ORIGINAL TITLE TO LAND IN THIS TOWN WAS OBTAINED — 
PROPRIETORS' MEETINGS — MANNER OF DIVIDING AND DRAWING 
LAND — ENCOURAGEMENT TO SOMEONE TO BUILD AN IRON WORKS, 
EIGHTY ACRES OF LAND WAS VOTED. 

To go back several years, it cannot fail to be of interest 
to some readers who have not had the opportunity of in- 
vestigating the matter to learn how the original title to the 
land in this and adjacent towns was obtained. 

At the present day in the western part of our country, a 
purchaser of a section or a small fraction of a section of 
land demands and receives with his deed an "Abstract of 
Title," or a "Search," as it is sometimes called, showing a 
continuous chain of clear title back to the original U. S. 
Patent, or the old Spanish Grant, whoever the original pro 
prietor may have been. 

The Colony of Connecticut received a patent or "grant" 
of these lands from the British government, and were we 
curious to follow back the chain, the right or the title of the 
British to this as to some other of their possessions, might 
appear very remarkable. 

After the long struggle over these "Western lands," as 
they were called, had been "amicably composed," and by 
order of the Colonial government the lands had been divided 
into townships and imaginary town lines , established, the 
town of Norfolk was divided into fifty-three parts, or rights. 

Those "rights," as we have already seen, were then sold 
at public "vendue," and a purchaser of a "right" received 
from a committee properly authorized by the Colonial gov- 



50 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

ernment a deed of one undivided fifty-third part of the land 
of this town. 

Of these fifty-three "rights" (three hundred acres in one 
piece having been appropriated in 1732) "for the benefit of 
Yale College forever, and to no other use," "one shall be for 
the use of the ministry forever, one for the first gospel min- 
ister settled, and one right for the support of the school in 
said town." 

The purchasers of the remaining 49 rights (Hosford's first 
purchase and the College grant having been called one right) 
each received his deed before a meeting of proprietors could 
be held or any division of the land made. 

A part of one of these original deeds is of interest: 



" Know all men by these presents that we, Benjamin Hall, Jabez 
Hamlin and Elihu Chauncy, a Committee appointed and fully em- 
powered by the General Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut in May 
last to make sale of forty-nine rights or shares of land in the township 
of Norfolli, in the County of Litchfield, the whole of which townsliip 
is to be distributed into fifty-two equal shares or rights, and that on 
this condition only: — that the purchasers shall be obliged to build a 
house, 18 feet square, 7 feet stud, and to make the same tenantable, and 
also clear six acres of land fit for mowing or plowing, and settle some 
suitable inhabitant thereupon each right respectively within four years 
from said purchase ; and on failure thereof such deed to be void. We 
therefore, on the conditions above said, and also for the consideration 
of £133 10s. lawful money, received to our full satisfaction of John 
Humphrey, Esq., of Simsbury, in the County of Hartford, do give, 
grant, sell, bargain and confirm unto the said Jolm Humphrey, Esq., 
and to his lieirs and assigns forever, one full right or share of land in 
the said township of Norfolk; To have and to hold, etc. * * * in 
behalf of the Governor and Company of said Colony, we do covenant 
and engage * * * to warrant and defend," etc. 

BENJ. HALL. 
JABEZ HAMLIN. 
ELIHU CHAUNCY. 

Middletown, 24 Nov., A. D. 1754. 



The first meeting of the proprietors of Norfolk was duly 
"warned" and held in Simsbury at the house of Jonathan 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 51 

Humphrey, Dec. IS, 1754, at which meeting they appointed 
a committee of three to look into the affairs respecting 
those persons who are settled on the undivided lands in the 
township of Norfolk, and see that each person settled sur- 
render his possession into the hands of this propriety, secur- 
ing the fee to the propriety. 

(This action would seem somewhat arbitrary, as Cornelius 
Brown, for example, had already been living on and im- 
proving his ''right" for ten years.) It is interesting to know 
the way in which they divided the land in this entire town 
into fifty-two parts or properties. This was not done in one 
grand division, giving each proprietor his 1-52 part of the 
town in one piece or farm, but in a way that must have been 
far more equitable. In the record of the first meeting of the 
proprietors is the following: 

"This propriety will make a division of part of their un- 
divided lands in said Norfolk in manner following: 

We will lay out one hundred acres of land to each right 
for each proprietor, and for each public right, in two several 
parts or lots, fifty acres for each lot, two lots to each right. 

A committee of nine, hereafter named to lay out said land, 
shall cise each lot and endeavor to make one lot as good 
as another by adding more land to those lots that are not 
so good land. * * ♦ The committee shall first consult 
and lay out convenient and necessary highways as they 
shall judge needful, and shall lay out and bound such high- 
ways as they shall judge needful for country roads before 
they lay out the said lots." 

"The committee to lay out the highways and lots were 
Wm. Willcockson, Jonathan Pettibone, John Paterson, 
Samuel Lawrence, Daniel Lawrence, Jr., Benajah Douglas, 
Joshua Whitney, Cornelius Brown and Samuel Gaylord. 
The above committee shall improve a surveyor to help per- 
form said service at their discretion, who shall make a plan 
of the highways and also of each lot. 

"We will raise a rate or tax on each of the 49 rights lately 
purchased, of £8, in Bills of Credit of the old tenor, to de- 
fray the charges of laying out said highways and lots; and 



52 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

each proprietor shall pay in said sum to Joshua Whitney, 
the Treasurer, before he have liberty to draw his lot or lots. 

Each proprietor shall have liberty to drav^^ his lots at the 
adjourned proprietors' meeting, to be held at Norfolk at 
the dwelling house of Cornelius Brown the first Wednes- 
day of May next, he paying said sum to the Treasurer. 

All mines and minerals found shall belong to said pro- 
prietors, to be improved as they shall think fit." 

At the second meeting of proprietors, held at the house 
of Cornelius Brown in Norfolk, May 7, 17.55, the following 
action was taken : 

"Whereas, several purchasers of rights in Norfolk, viz.: 
John Turner, Jun., Samuel Gaylord, Cornelius Brown, Ezra 
Nap, Ebenezer Nap, William Barber, George Palmer, James 
Hotchkiss and Samuel Manross are now in the improve- 
ment of lands in said Norfolk which are now laid out into 
lots, and requesting that they may have those lots assigned 
and set out to them in which their respective improvements 
are, Voted, that each of them who is a proprietor of a whole 
right shall have liberty to take to themselves one of the lots 
in which their improvements are, instead of drawing for 
their lots." 

Third meeting of proprietors at the house of George 
Palmer, May 21, 1755. 

"The committee brought in their surveys of highways and 
lots laid out, viz.: First laid out fifty acres to each right, 
which they called the first going over, and marked the num- 
ber of each lot on the bounds of said lot. Then laid out fifty 
acres more to each right, marked the number of each lot on 
the bounds thereof, and a mark to distinguish it, which 
they called the second going over. Then by agreement of 
the proprietors the committee selected out 52 of the lots 
which they judged the best, to be first drawn, part out of 
the first going over and part out of the second." ♦ ♦ ♦ 
"The method we now agree to draw for our lots is: — 'the 
52 lots be put into a hatt, and some indifferent person shall 
draw out a ticket which shall be numbered, which shall be 
the lot's number, and the lot which either proprietor shall 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 53 

draw as above shall be held as his in severalty, and the next 
52 lots shall be drawn for in the same method.' " 

Someone may smile at the fact of 52 fifty acre lots having 
been "put into a hatt," but they understood it, and it was 
all right. 

Very few descendants of the original proprietors have, 
for the past fifty years at least, been known in the town, A 
few are still known here, viz.: Descendants of Cornelius 
Brown and Titus Brown, his brother, of some of the Hum- 
phreys, Pettibones, Samuel Gaylord, Daniel Lawrence, 
Samuel Butler, David Phelps, Ezra and Ebenezer Knapp, 
Jeremiah Case, James Hotchkiss, and possibly others. 

Someone, sometime, somewhere, may wish to know the 
names of these "proprietors," so I will insert them. Aside 
from the few first designated, each of the others was the 
owner of one right at the first drawing. Timothy Hosford 
had five rights; Jonathan Pettibone, three rights; Captain 
Daniel Lawrence, Jr., two rights; Benajah Douglas, two 
rights; Samuel Flagg, two rights. One each: John Beebe, 
Gideon Thompson, John Humphrey, William Wilcockson, 
Michael Humphrey, David Phelps, William Barber, Joshua 
Whitney, Ezra Nap, Ebenezer Nap, Cornelius Brown, Titus 
Brown, Samuel Gaylord, Samuel Manross, James Hotchkiss, 
John Turner, George Palmer, Isaac Pettibone, Bevell Sey- 
mour, Jeremiah Case, Daniel Willcockson, Jonathan Hum- 
phrey, Noah Humphrey. Edward Griswold, Samuel Butler, 
Phineas Lewis, Capt, John Patterson, Joseph Phelps, Jr., 
William Walter, John Beach, Jr., James Lusk, William 
Warner, Noah Griswold, David Griswold, Benjamin Phelps. 

At this same meeting they voted to lay out to each pro- 
prietor of a whole right 100 acres again in two 50 acre lots, 
to be cised and drawn for in the same manner as the first 
division. 

May 19, 1756. "Voted to pray the Assembly to lengthen 
out the time of payment, and forbare ye interest of the 
Bonds for said land bought at public vandue." 

"Voted that the committee which laid out the second divi- 
sion shall have 8s. 6d. lawful money per day; the chain men 



54 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

2s. 6d., and the surveyor which they hired to lay out said 
diviBion shall have 4s. 6d. lav^ful money. Those persons 
which have wrought in the highway shall have 2s. lawful 
money per day." 

''Voted a rate of 6s. on each right to defray the charges of 
laying out the second division, and mending highways," 

''Voted, Whereas Wm. Walter was appointed to take care 
of the timber in Norfolk, and call persons to an account of 
what he should find trespassed in said town, and he has 
called some persons to account and has gott £30 14s., old 
tenor, and has paid the same into the hands of the proprie- 
tors, which we do appoint shall be appropriated for the 
preaching of the gospel in Norfolk," and "that Joshua Whit- 
ney be appointed to procure preaching so far as the said 
£30 14s. granted by this proprietors' meeting shall go." 

"That all the money due the proprietors on former rates 
which has not been expended shall be appropriated to mend- 
ing highways." 

"Appointed a committee to take care of the grist mill place 
for to build a grist mill, and make their report to the ad- 
journed meeting what is best to be done respecting said mill 
place." 

Sept. 29, 1756. "Appointed Joshua Whitney, Capt. Daniel 
Lawrence, Jr., and Ezra Knap to lay out so much common 
land as they shall judge needful for pondage for the use of 
a mill, and also what land they shall think fit for to build 
a grist mill on and make report." 

"Voted that our Proprietors' clerk shall record survey 
bills, and surveys of highways that have been laid out." 

February 18, 1757. Report of a committee appointed to 
lay out a place to build a grist mill : 

"We have surveyed and laid out land and premises as 
follow^eth: Beginning at the S. W. corner of the piece of 
land laid out for a burying place; thence E. 24 S. 20 rods 
to the S. E. corner of said burying place; thence N. 24 E. 
8 rods to the N. E. corner of said burying place; thence E. 
24 S. 8 rods to a stake and stones standing in the south line 
of the highway that goes from Canaan into said Norfolk; 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 55 

thence thirty rods to the north-east corner of Left. Samuel 
Gaylord's land, the lot on which he now lives; thence west- 
erly as said Gaylord's lot runs 40 rods to a hemlock tree 
and stones standing in said line; thence a straight line to 
the first bounds began at: and also we recommend to said 
proprietors that the person who bids off said privilege shall 
have liberty of laying out five acres for pondage. ♦ ♦ • 
It is that piece of land left for pondage where there is a 
dam built on said river. And also we do recommend to said 
proprietors that the same land and premises be set up at 
public vandue, and the person or persons who shall bid and 
secure the same bid to said proprietors, the most for said 
land and privilege of said mill place shall have the same for 
his or their own proper estate as a fee simple on the condi- 
tions hereafter named, viz.: Provided the purchaser or pur- 
chasers shall make and build a good grist mill on said 
stream, ami the same have fit for grinding by ye first of 
September next, and also have a good lawn and give suit- 
able attendance during ye pleasure of sd proprietors; said 
lawn to have by the 1st of March, 1758; and in failure there- 
of, the said land and privilege still to remain in the hands 
of said proprietors, and for their own use to dispose of as 
though nothing had been here acted. Witness our hands." 

DANIEL LAWRENCE, Jr. 

EZRA KNAP. 

JOSHUA WHITNEY. 
February 20, 1757. Committee." 

At the same meeting they appointed a committee to make 
the third division of two 50 acre lots to each right, as before, 
to employ a surveyor, and laid a tax of 20s. on a right to 
defray expenses. 

"May 17, 1757, at a Proprietors' meeting at the house of 
Joshua Whitney, appointed a committee of three to look 
into the affair of a place for Iron Works in Norfolk, with 
power to lease out said place for said Iron W^orks to him 
or them who shall build the same and keep in good repair 
steadily making iron. ♦ ♦ * Said committee has power 
hereby to lay out 80 acres of land in the common land after 



56 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

the third division ia completed, and make a proper lease for 
999 years from the date of said lease, to him or them who 
shall build said Iron Works, taking security that shall 
oblige them to keep said works in good repair for the space 
of fifteen years next coming, the said Iron Works to be built 
and made fit to make iron steadily in Norfolk by September 
1st, 1758." 

November 2, 1757, the drawing of the third division of 
land, two 50 acre lots to each right, was held. 

"Voted, that no person carry out of Norfolk any stones fit 
for mill stones, without liberty of committee of common 
lands. That 150 days' work be done on the highways at the 
proprietors' cost. That if so much remain of the grant for 
laying out the third division, and a plan of the township, 
that £10 shall be appropriated to procure preaching in Nor- 
folk, 10s. for each Sabbath, provided the inhabitants pay 
one-half of ye preaching during the time. Joshua Whitney, 
Isaac Pettibone and Cornelius Dowd were committee to 
procure preaching." 

"May 24, 1758. Appointed a committee to lay out the white 
pine timber land lying in the northwest part of Norfolk, 
bounded east on land of Abrahani^Barden, north on David 
Phelps and Jonathan Humphrey, west "on Ebenezer and 
Ezra Knap. Fifty-two lots to be laid out in said place 
which is yet common, each proprietor to hold one part in 
severalty, and to draw for the same. This drawing Dec, 
1758." 

Joshua Whitney received the grist mill privilege and 
commenced building the mill, but sold it to Abel Phelps 
early in 1759, who finished the mill and ran it for several 
years. 

"September 5, 1759, a meeting was held at Giles Petti- 
bone's house, when they voted to proceed to a fourth di- 
vision of the lands, 60 acres to each proprietor in two 30 
acre lots, to be laid by pitching, in this way: 52 tickets to 
be made, and each proprietor shall draw for his pitch. None 
to proceed to pitch until Oct. 1st next. He that draws ticket 
No. 1 shall have the liberty of said 1st day of October to lay 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 57 

his lot, and shall have the last pitch in the second 30 acre 
lots, and so on ; no survey to be esteemed good and authentic 
unless surveyed by a surveyor and two committee men, by 
them signed and dated, giving the meets and bounds, length 
and breadth. (Benajah Douglas drew ticket No. 1, Titus 
Brown No. 31, Giles Pettibone No. 38, etc.) At the same 
meeting it was recorded that, "In 1757 a committee was ap- 
pointed to lease out and give conveyance of 80 acres of the 
undivided land, to some suitable person who would build 
a good iron works in Norfolk and the same have fit for 
making iron by September 1, 1758, and no person hath per- 
formed the business; and also this propriety sequestered a 
piece of land west of that piece of land which Mr. Abel 
Phelps has built a grist-mill on; now we vote and agree 
to take off the sequestration to the west piece of land, and 
vote to give it to any person or persons that will build a 
good sufficient Iron Works in said Norfolk and have the 
same fit and make iron by September 1, 1761, and our com- 
mittee shall lay out said 80 acres in the common land and 
give conveyance as formerly voted. The land west of said 
grant on which said Phelps' grist-mill now stands, includ- 
ing the west sequestration, bounds South on ye 23d lot in 
1st division 1st going over; west on a highway, and north 
on the highway that goes to Canaan. And the same be laid 
by our said committee to him or them that shall undertake 
and preform said business, taking the security as above 
and in part of said 80 acres; the residue in the common land. 
Benajah Douglas, Joshua Whitney and George Palmer, 
committee, is fully impowered to preform the above busi- 
ness, having regard that the burying place be not infringed 
on." 

At a Proprietor's meeting May 7, 1760, at the house of 
Giles Pettibone, "Voted that we will and do accept the re- 
port of Benajah Douglas and George Palmer this day made 
respecting building Iron Works, and establish their doings 
respecting leasing ye said works to Samuel Forbes, and 
privileges of the land that they have leased." 

There appears from the records to have been a want of 



58 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

harmony in the action of the committee in leasing the land 
for the Iron Works to Mr. Forbes, — the names of only two 
of the committee being given in the report which was ac- 
cepted by the meeting. 

What the trouble was appears a little later. 

"Voted, whereas Timothy Horsford has laid out a 30 acre 
pitch of land which we judge he has not the right to lay 
out said 30 acres, and we will defend Samuel Forbes in the 
possession of said land which said committee hath laid for 
said Forbes, and be at the cost if any shall arise respecting 
Forbes' quiet possession of said land. And we judge the 
same was sequestered before said Horsford laid his said 
30 acres. This propriety had voted liberty to our committee 
to lay said land for the use of ye Iron works, and the same 
was bounded by said propriety's vote." 

"Whereas Benajah Douglas is deceased, and George 
Palmer and said Douglas had not fully completed the afifair 
with Samuel Forbes respecting leasing out the land, etc., 
to said Forbes respecting Iron works, we do now appoint 
Deacon Michael Humphrey to join said Palmer in complet- 
ing said business with said Forbes, and their doings shall 
be esteemed good and authentic as fully as Douglas and 
Palmer could." 

Then follows this Protest: 

"We, the subscribers, proprietors of Norfolk, in public 
proprietors' meeting May 7, 1760, being dissatisfied with the 
vote of the proprietors this day respecting ye report of the 
committee respecting Iron Works in Norfolk, do protest 
that said proprietors by their vote cannot give away an- 
other's land, and protest against ye proprietors voting to 
give away our land, or doing anything about ye same or any 
part thereof without our mutual consent. 

Joshua Whitney, 3 rights, 
Daniel Lawrence, Jr., 4 rights, 
"May 7, 1760. Timothy Horsford, 2 1-2 rights." 

On the same date, "Voted that we will and do sequest 
the mill-place at the mouth of the Great Pond, the north 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 59 

part of the town of Norfolk, and all of the common land 
adjoining thereto, except suitable highways across said 
common land; and that no person shall have liberty to lay 
the same in severalty for himself. And all the rest of suit- 
able mill streams and places in said Norfolk that is not 
yet laid we do hereby sequest for our own use said mill 
places." 

At a meeting June 9, 1762, it was "Voted to lay out by 
pitching 40 acres to each proprietor that holds a whole 
right. They drew their tickets and commenced to pitch Oc- 
tober 1st, following, in same manner as before. January 
18, 1763, they voted to lay out 20 acres to each right, by 
pitching; drew their tickets; the pitching to commence 
September 1st next." 

Same date, "Voted, that this propriety will give all our 
right to a certain piece of land lying near the mouth of 
the Great Pond toward the north east part of the town- 
ship of Norfolk, which piece the proprietors have already 
sequestered for their own use; and they hereby take off that 
sequestration and give to him or them that will build a 
good iron works in said Norfolk and have them fit to make 
iron by the 15th day of January, 1765, and keep them in or- 
der fit to make iron for the space of fifteen years from the 
time they are built; to be built upon the same stream that 
comes out of said Great Pond, between said pond and the 
town line, where the brook goes out of said Norfolk." 

September 7, 1763, "Whereas Timothy Horsford in Octo- 
ber, 1759, pitched upon a piece of land that the proprietors 
did sequestrate for their own use, — now the proprietors 
vote and agree that Jedediah Richards who has bought said 
pitch of said Horsford, shall for said pitch have liberty to 
lay out in the common land in Norfolk 40 acres, laying it 
upon his own cost; said Richards giving a quit-claim of 
said pitch to the proprietors of Norfolk." 

"Whereas, by making the plan of the town there is very 
great mistakes and errors in many of the surveys of lots 
and pitches of land, both in measure and in points of com- 
pass, therefore voted that there shall be survey bills drawn 



60 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

of all the surveys wherein mistakes are found, whether in 
measure or in points of compass, according as they are 
corrected and made right by the plan and records." 

September 19, 1766, "Voted that whereas Capt. Daniel 
Lawrence, Jr., Thomas Day and Samuel Ransom did all and 
each of them become bound to the proprietors of Norfolk 
in the penal sum of £500, lawful money, that they would 
build a good Iron-works in said Norfolk, somewhere near 
the Great Pond so called in Norfolk, and to have them fit 
to make iron by the loth of January, 1765; now said pro- 
prietors vote and agree that we will not ask nor sue said 
Lawrence and others upon said bond for the space of five 
years after said January 15th, 1765." 

No meeting of proprietors was held so far as the record 
shows, from May, 1768, until September, 1804, when they 
voted to lay out by pitching 20 acres to each original pro- 
prietor. 

March 12, 1811, Jedediah Richards, Jr., Michael F. Mills 
and Jonathan Pettibone added to the committee to erect 
such bounds as are imperfect and finish the survey of such 
lots and pitches as have never been completed. 

September 26, 1825, Michael F. Mills was chosen Clerk. 
Voted that each proprietor of an original right, have the 
right to pitch 20 acres of the undivided lands in Norfolk. 
Nov. 15, 1856, surveyed and laid out to Daniel Hotchkiss 
of Norfolk from the common and undivided lands in Nor- 
folk, 55 rods of land on the original right owned by his 
father, Jonah Hotchkiss. 

Henry Norton, County Surveyor. 

Michael F. Mills, 

Amos Pettibone, 

Props.' Com. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 61 



VI, 

THE FIRST TOWN MEETING HELD DEC. 12, 1758 — REPORT OF SAME — 
NAMES OF FIRST TOWN OFFICERS — LONG STRUGGLE OF LOCATING 
AND BUILDING THE MEETING-HOUSE — DIGNIFYING AND SEATING 
THE HOUSE — MANNER OF RAISING MONEY AND MATERIAL TO 
FINISH THE HOUSE. 

We can have no doubt but that Messrs. George Palmer 
and Ezra Knapp gave due notice and warning to all the in- 
habitants of the town, and that they with one mind and 
heart assembled upon this important occasion, in accord- 
ance with the warning for this their first town meeting, 
which was held at the house of Joshua Whitney. Many 
subsequent meetings were held at the tavern of Mr. Giles 
Pettibone, upon the ground, if not indeed in the very same 
building which recently was the residence of Mrs. Lyman 
Johnson, and a couple of generations ago the residence of 
Mr. Luther Butler, opposite the residence of Mr. E. Grove 
Lawrence. The memorial to the General Assembly in Oc- 
tober previous, stated that there were forty-three families 
in the township. The record gives the names of forty-four 
legal voters present, which were as follows: George Palmer, 
Moderator; William Barber, Jedediah Richards, John Tur- 
ner, Ebenezer Knapp, Cornelius Brown, Aaron Aspenwall, 
Samuel Gaylord, Ezra Knapp, Isaac Pettibone, Edward 
Strickland, Samuel Cowles, Ebenezer Burr, Elijah Barber, 
Ebenezer Pardia, Cornelius Doud, Joseph Mills, Gideon 
Lawrence, Asahel Case. Jnstis Gaylord, Rufus Lawrence, 
Eli Pettibone, Samuel Mills, Thomas Knapp, Ebenezer 
Knapp, Jr., James Hotchkiss, Samuel Ransom, Abraham 
Knapp, James Benedict, Stephen Baker, Joshua Whitney, 
Jacob Spaulding, Stephen Comstock, Jedediah Turner, 
Samuel Strickland, Jabez Rood, Samuel Munross, Luther 
Barber, Timothy Gaylord, Elisha Richards, Giles Petti- 



62 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

bone, Jonathan Strickland, Amariah Plumb, David Turner. 
An extended report of this, the first town meeting held in 
Norfolk, cannot fail to be of interest to many now living 
and possibly to some who will live after we have all passed 
away. 

The meeting having been called to order, as we may be- 
lieve by one of the gentlemen who had been designated by 
the General Assembly to give notice and warning of the 
meeting, the record, giving first the charter, or the incor- 
poration of the town, reads as follows: — 

''New England, Colony of Connecticut, Litchfield County. 
Whereas, the Honorable General Assembly of the Colony 
of Connecticut aforesaid, did at their session held at New 
Haven upon the second Thursday of October, A.D. 1758, 
enact, decree and declare that the township of Norfolk 
should be incorporated, and did incorporate said township 
of Norfolk and ordered and decreed that Mr. George Palmer 
and Mr. Ezra Knap should warn all the inhabitants of said 
Norfolk to meet at some suitable place in said Norfolk on 
the second Tuesday of December, 1758, and said Palmer and 
Knap made return that they gave notice to all the inhabi- 
tants to meet at the house of Joshua Whitney in said Nor- 
folk on said second Tuesday of December at nine of ye 
clock, and the inhabitants being met accordingly to per- 
form the above business; and those who met are as follows: 
(names are given above.) Then we proceeded to chuse Mr. 
George Palmer Moderator of said meeting. Then we pro- 
ceeded to chuse a Town Clerk, and for our Town Clerk did 
chuse Joshua Whitney. 

"Then we proceeded to the choice of selectmen; and for 
the first selectman did chuse Mr. George Palmer, and for 
ye second selectman did chuse Mr. Ezra Knap, and for our 
third selectman did chuse Mr. Asahel Case. 

"Voted and did chuse Mr. Ebenezer Burr Treasurer for 
town of Norfolk. 

"Voted and did chuse Eli Pettibone for first Constable. 
And did chuse Samuel Mills for second Constable. 

"Voted and did chuse Gideon Lawrence, Cornelius Doud, 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. ^63 

Samuel Gowles, James Benedict, Giles Pettibone and Eben- 
ezer Knap surveyors of highways. 

"Voted and said town did chuse Joseph Mills, Giles Petti- 
bone and Thomas Knap to be listers for said town for year 
insuing. 

"Also town did chuse Mr. John Turner, Leather Sealer, 
for said town for said year insuing. 

"Also said town did chuse Jedediah Richards and Eben- 
ezer Burr grand jurymen. 

"Also did chuse Isaac Pettibone and Jedediah Turner 
Tythingmen. ' 

"Also did chuse Gideon Lawrence, Samuel Munross and 
Isaac Pettibone, fence viewers. 

"James Hotchkiss to be sealer of weights and measures. 

"Samuel Munross to be key-keeper, 

"Eli Pettibone to be collector of rates. 

"Also the Selectmen was chosen rate makers." 

The election of their town officers seems to have been 
about all the business transacted at this first town-meeting. 
Upon the same day a meeting was warned, "to meet at ye 
house of Giles Pettibone in said Norfolk on ye 20th day of 
December instant at nine of ye clock forenoon." 

The only business transacted at this second meeting that 
seems to be of interest was : 

"John Turner was chosen moderator. 

"Voted that we will proceed to procure preaching in this 
town and we do agree to have the Gospel preacht in this 
town, and we do appoint Mess. Jedediah Richards, Ezra 
Knap, Samuel Gaylord, Joseph Mills and Ebenezer Burr 
to be a Committee to procure preaching in said Norfolk as 
soon as may be." 

At the third meeting, "held at the house of Giles Petti- 
bone at 12 of ye clock on the 8th day of January, 1759," Mr. 
Ebenezer Knap was chosen moderator; it was "Voted, that 
this town will continue Mr. Joseph Peck to preach longer 
in this town. 

"Voted, that this town of Norfolk will proceed to build 
a meeting house in said Norfolk for the worship of God. 



64 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

The same vote was voted by more than two-thirds of the 
lawful voters present. 

"Voted, That we will apply to the County Court to be 
held at Litchfield ye third Tuesday of January current, that 
said County Court would send a committee of three men 
to prefix a place for a meeting house in said Norfolk and 
set the stake; and Joshua Whitney, Esq., be apjDointed 
agent to go to said Court to request of said Court the above 
business. 

"Voted, That Isaac Petibone and Ebenezer Burr be a com- 
mittee to lease the school lot, being the 6th lot in 1st di- 
vision, to Cornelius Doud; and same committee to see that 
42 shillings be laid out in clearing said school lot." 

At a meeting held May 2nd, 1759, it was "Voted to apply 
to the General Assembly to grant a tax on the land in Nor- 
folk, the money to be appropriated to pay for preaching the 
Gospel, for two years." 

The matter of first importance to those earliest settlers 
of this town, the lineal ancestors of some now living here, 
evidently was, to procure the preaching of the gospel, and 
to build a meeting-house as a place suitable for the same. 
This purpose was perfectly natural, if we but remember 
that they were the direct lineal descendants, only two or 
three generations removed, of those men and women who 
left their home and native land for the express purpose 
of making a home "where they might worship God accord- 
ing to the dictates of their own consciences," and to be be- 
yond the reach of that arbitrary power which forbade them 
"to assemble for worship in any place or in any form other 
than according to the prescribed rubric." Unquestionably 
they were all hard at work, felling the forests, clearing and 
subduing this cold, hard, rocky land, that they might be 
able to raise and procure food and clothing necessary for 
themselves and their families; but their one purpose was 
evidently at all times uppermost in their minds. 

Accordingly, at a town meeting duly warned and as- 
sembled at the house of Giles Pettibone on September 18, 
1759, it was "Voted, that we judge it necessary to build a 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 65 

meeting house in said Norfolk, and that we will proceed to 
build a meeting-house, and have agreed on the place, and 
do agree that the place shall be at the east end of the 
Seventh Lott, in First Division, first going over; and that 
on the hill where Mr. Samuel Munross formerly laid up 
sundry loggs in order for a barn place. Joshua Whitney 
was appointed agent to request the County Court to order 
that that may be the place, and said town be ordered to 
build their meeting-house at that place for divine worship," 
Jt was further ''Voted, that we will apply to the General 
Assembly to be held at New Haven the second Thursday 
of October next, to grant a tax of two pence per acre yearly, 
the same to be appropriated for the use of the town to build 
a meeting-house and to pay for the preaching of the Gospel, 
and the tax to be continued four years.'' At this meeting 
it was further "Voted, that near the place where Samuel 
Munross built his barn, between his house and Ebenezer 
Burr, the selectmen build a pound." This was at the south 
end of the green. 

That the question where shall we build our meeting- 
house, was one that interested all the inhabitants of the 
town and agitated their minds and caused something of a 
struggle and a contest, may be readily inferred from the 
town records, and that idea is confirmed by family tradi- 
tion. 

It is an easily established fact that, in those early days, 
many if not most of the stores and other business places, 
such as they were, were located upon Beech Flats, having 
their centre near where later, the Bigelow tavern was lo- 
cated, now the residence of George R. Bigelow. A Mr. 
Dickinson is said to have kept one of the first stores in 
the town near that place, on the ground of the present 
residence of Dr. Peaselee. As late as 1792 when Mr. Joseph 
Battell settled in the town, his business was commenced 
and continued for a number of years on the site of the 
old Humphrey place on Beech Flats, the present residence 
of Mrs. C. J. Cole. That there was a desire felt and 
an effort made by a considerable number to locate the meet- 



66 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

ing-house upon Beech Flats cannot be doubted. The house 
of Giles Pettibone, located as stated above, seems to have 
been considered by many as in a central location, as most 
of the town meetings were held in that house until the meet- 
ing-house was commenced. 

At a town meeting held October 8, X759, it was "Voted, 
that Asahel Case, Ezra Knap and Abel Phelps be a com- 
mittee to run lines in order to find the centre of the town, 
to lay the true state of the town before the committee ap- 
pointed by the Court last September to place the stake for 
the meeting-house. (This committee ascertained that the 
geographical centre of the town was near the residence of 
Deacon Abraham Hall, 1-4 mile southeast of E. J. Tres- 
cott's, formerly Charles H, Mills' residence.) And we do 
agree that John Turner, Ebenezer Knapp, Samuel Cowles, 
Cideon Lawrence and Isaac Pettibone be a committee to 
call in said committee and weight on said committee, and 
lay the state of the town before said committee that the 
true place for said meeting-house may be apprised, and the 
last Committee be appointed to call in said county com- 
mittee on Wednesday next to preform the above business." 
For some reason the committees failed on the day desig- 
nated to find and fix '^the true place," as at the annual meet- 
ing on the 2nd Monday of December, 1759, it was, "voted, 
that John Turner be agent to go to the county court to be 
held at Litchfield the 3d Tuesday of January next, to re- 
«iuest said court to establish the place tor ye meeting-house 
in Norfolk." 

At the meeting December 14, 1759, it was "Voted, that 
said town will build a meeting-house of forty feet wide and 
fifty feet long, a suitable height for gallering." At the same 
meeting it was "voted that Abel Phelps, Isaac Holt, Sam- 
uel Gaylord, Isaac Pettibone and Samuel Mills be a com- 
mittee to take care to build the meeting-house." 

During the winter of 1759-60 the timber for the frame of 
the meeting-house was cut and drawn near the place where 
the house was at last located. 

At a town meeting held June 3, 1760, at the house of Abel 
Phelps, it is recorded: 



.Hi 



HISTORY^ OF NORFOLK. 67 

''Whereas, the town of Norfolk have bought a piece of 
land convenient to set a meeting-house on, about fifteen 
rods westward from the stake set by the Committee ap- 
pointed by the Court; voted, that the meeting-house shall 
be set up at the place where the timber now lyeth, which 
is about fifteen rods westward from the stake aforesaid; 
but three men in the negative. Voted, to choose an agent 
to go to the court and pray that the place for setting the 
meeting-house may be affixed agreeable to the foregoing 
vote," 

The stake set by the court was evidently not far from the 
site of the present parsonage, as the present meeting-house 
was built in 1813 upon the same site as the first house. 

By the 1st of June of that year the great timbers for 
the meeting-house had been hewed and framed, and the 
day fixed upon for the raising was at hand. At the town 
meeting June 3d a committee was named "to provide victals 
and drink for the hands that raise the meeting-house," and 
we can readily imagine that the men from all parts of the 
town assembled to assist in *'the raising," coming together 
for that purpose with genuine satisfaction and enthusiasm. 
It is somewhere stated that after the frame of the meeting- 
house was raised, ''the men all sat on the sills, sung a 
Psalm, and had a prayer," On June 24th of that year, at 
a town meeting held at the house of Abel Phelps and "ad- 
journed to the meeting-house frame," it was there "voted 
that the committee shall go on to cover the same as soon 
as may be conveniently," 

From that time they seem to have rested from their pub- 
lic labors for a year or more, as the next mention of work 
in finishing the house is in Sept., 1761, when it was "Voted, 
to underpin the house and provide boards to lay a floor." 
Roys says: "Their progress in building the meeting-house 
may be seen by the following statement: In 1759 they com- 
menced building the meeting-house, and in the course of 
the year (1760), raised and covered it. In 1761, underpinned 
and floored the lower part of it. In 1767, laid the gallery 
fioor. In 1769, finished the lower part and made the pulpit. 



68 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

January 2, 1770, dignified and seated it. In 1771, finished 
the galleries and procured a cushion for the pulpit desk." 
There is not in existence, so far as the writer knows, 
any description of the old meeting-house. We find that 
it was, according to the record, ''forty feet wide and fifty 
feet long, a suitable height for gallering." Mr. Boyd gives 
a description of the interior of the meeting-house of the 
First Congregational Church in Winsted, built in 1800, 
(forty years nearly after the Norfolk house was built,) and 
being probably as near a description of the interior of 
the old house in this town as can now be obtained, 
I quote from it: "It was built, floored and covered in 1800, 
and was for the period when it was built the best propor- 
tioned and finished church edifice in the region. The in- 
terior was completed five years afterward, in a style of the 
then modern composite architecture. Its inner furnishing 
and adornment was picturesque. The body of the audience 
room was occupied by three aisles, with high-paneled, 
square pews of unpainted pine. The pulpit was an eight 
square tub, supported by a single pillar standing about ten 
feet high, and resembling an immense gobiet. Narrow, 
rectangular stairs with elaborate railings, ascended from 
each end of the altar to half the height of the structure, 
and then turned toward each other and met at a two-and- 
a-half-foot platform in rear of the tub from which a door 
opened to receive the preacher, and on being closed a seat 
was turned down for him to sit on, and affording scant 
room for a companion to sit by his side. The crowning ap- 
pendage of this unique structure was an eight square 
wooden sounding board, suspended by a half inch square 
iron rod fastened in the arched ceiling. It resembled a 
woolen tassel attached to a frail cord incapable of sustain- 
ing it. It vibrated sensibly with every motion of the air, 
and fearfully when the windows were open and a thunder 
storm impending. This feature gave to the concern an 
element of the sublime which modified its fantastical char- 
acter, especially in the eyes of the youthful worshipers, 
whose fears of the demolition of the minister by the break- 



fflSTORY OF NORFOLK. 69 

ing of the imaginary string were not altogether unrea- 
sonable. ... A single row of singers' seats went around 
the entire front line of the gallery. ... A narrow ele- 
vated alley ran in the rear of the singers' seats, and in the 
rear of this, on the sides of the house, were still more ele- 
vated pews, furnishing admirable places of concealed re- 
tirement for the boys and girls who chose to worship in a 
more cheerful way than their parents below would have 
approved. . . . The interior of the house retained its pris- 
tine form and adornments until 1828, when the pulpit, 
sounding board and all, was taken down, and a less pre- 
tentious but more convenient one built. ... In the gal- 
lery the aristocratic front pews, and the devil-possessed 
side pews were removed." 

They at an early day rose to the dignity of employing 
a janitor, as February 3, 1762, they ''Voted to give Eben- 
ezer Burr, Jun., five shillings, to sweep the meeting-house 
and take care that the doors and windows are shut till the 
annual meeting next December." 

For about seventy years people assembled in this town 
for divine worship on the Sabbath having no way of warm- 
ing the meeting-house or themselves, save by the little tin 
foot-stove that held less than a quart of burning coals from 
their open fires. People were then compelled by law to 
attend divine service on the Sabbath, so no one could ab- 
sent himself from this service simply because the day was 
cold. They had just a little relief in what were called ''Sab- 
bath-day-houses" near the meeting-house, already mentioned 
by Dr. Eldridge. Several persons would unite and build 
a little log house, having a large fireplace, and when they 
arrived on Sabbath morning they would find a nice fire 
burning in this great open fireplace where they could warm 
themselves, and where the women could replenish their 
foot-stoves with burning coals from the hearth. At a town 
meeting held Dec. 1760, it w^as ''voted that John Turner, 
Jedediah Richards, (and others,) have liberty to build a 
Sabbath-day house and horse houses, convenient for Sab- 
bath days, on the land purchased of Timothy Horsford to 



70 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

build a meeting-house on, to be let out at the discretion of 
the Selectmen. Voted the same liberty to any other of 
said town inhabitants." 

People living near the meeting-house kept open house, 
many of them at least, during the one and a half hours be- 
tween the morning and afternoon services, and their friends 
and acquaintances were made welcome to warm them- 
selves by their glowing open fires, to eat their luncheons 
and replenish their foot-stoves. The "tavern" of Giles Pet- 
tibone, Jr., later the Shepard Hotel, is said to have been 
a favorite place for the men to congregate and spend their 
noon hour, while the women were made welcome and com- 
fortable at the homes of Esq. Battell, Dr. Koys, "Aunt Mol- 
lie Phelps," and others. It should be remembered that Sun- 
day Schools were not yet known, at this early period. In 
his "Centennial Discourse," 1876, Mr. Beach says: "The 
organization of the Sunday School also took place under 
Mr. Emerson. A persistent search has failed to reveal the 
date of its first establishment, or who were its early super- 
intendents. The most probable date is the period between 
1822 and 1824." 

"Dignifying" and seating the meeting-house when com- 
pleted, was evidently a delicate and diflScult matter, in 
order to please everyone and displease no one. This too 
was done by the town. September, 1769, it was "Voted, 
that the town will proceed to have the meeting-house seated 
so soon as the seats in the lower part are finished." At the 
same meeting, "Voted, that the pew next to the pulpit on 
the north side shall be for Mr. A. R. Bobbins' family to sit 
in." Also, "that we appoint a committee of seven to seat 
the meeting-house." 

"Voted, that the rule for the seater shall be, that one 
year age shall be accounted equal to five pounds list." 

"Voted that the seaters shall dignify the seats as they 
shall think proper." "That the list given in in 1769 shall 
be the list for the seaters to go by." 

At a meeting held in November of the same year it was 
"Put to vote whether the town will proceed to now seat 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 71 

the meeting-house. Passed in the negative." "Mr. Bobbins 
appeared in the meeting and publicly gave up his right to 
his pew.'' At a meeting in December of that year they 
again appointed a committee of five, "to dignify the pews 
in the meeting-house," and also "Voted, that the meeting- 
house shall be seated." 

After the second committees, appointed to "dignify" and 
to seat the house had reported, "the town voted not to con- 
firm the doings of the last seaters;" and also "voted that 
the doings of the former seaters shall stand." And so the 
matter was settled for that year. (These votes of the town 
are mentioned simply to give a glimpse of the ways and 
doings of the people of those early times.) I will close this 
chapter with a brief mention of the way means were pro- 
vided for meeting the expense of building this first house 
of worship, quoting again from Beach: 

"One-half of the proceeds of the land tax before men- 
tioned had furnished the means of building. This ceased 
by limitation in 1763, and the finishing, which was per- 
formed at intervals from 1766 to 1772, was provided for 
as follows: A vote would be passed in town meeting speci- 
fying what work should be done, and laying an extra tax 
on the grand list sufficient for that purpose, and made pay- 
able 'in good merchantable pine boards, or in good bar iron, 
to be delivered at the meeting-house' by a certain date; and 
sometime other 'species' were allowed. The appointment 
of a committee would follow to receive said boards and 
iron, and improve them for the above said use." He further 
says: "There is no record or tradition that any formal 
dedication of this building took place, and that it was first 
occupied for worship in the autumn of 1761 is only a prob- 
able inference. Yet there is no doubt that a house of this 
size, built by a young struggling town, and requiring about 
twelve years for its completion, received the Christian en- 
deavors and fervent prayers of all the members." 



72 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 



VII. 

CUSTOMS AND HABITS OF THE FIRST SETTLERS — ORGANIZATION OF 
THE "CHURCH OF CHRIST" — EFFORTS AND FAILURE TO SECURE 
A SETTLED PASTOR — CALL, SETTLEMENT AND ORDINATION OF 
MR. AMMI RUHAMAH ROBBINS, FIRST PASTOR OF THE CHURCH. 

It seems appropriate to speak briefly of the customs, 
manners and habits of our ancestors. I quote from Pal- 
frey's History of New England: 

''In Connecticut in Colonial times the place for public 
worship was the 'meeting-house/ where assemblies for 
transacting the town's business were also held." All town 
meetings and elections were held in the "meeting-house" in 
Norfolk until 1846, when that house was repaired and im- 
proved, and the town bought the lower room of the Acad 
emy for a town hall, which has since that date been used 
for elections, town meetings, and various gatherings. 

"Men and women sat apart on their respective sides of 
the house; while boys had a separate place from both, with 
a tything-man to keep them in order.'' 

Many persons still living remember that this custom was 
kept up in the old "Conference room" until probably less 
than twenty-five years ago; the seats in that room facing 
toward the centre; the women always sitting upon the 
north side of the room and the men upon the south side. 
A morning and an afternoon service was held each Sabbath, 
the morning service commencing, in accordance with a vote 
of the town, at ten o'clock, in the early history of the town, 
with an intermission of an hour and a half between the 
two services. "These services consisted of extemporaneous 
prayers, singing of the Psalms in a metrical version, with- 
out instrumental aecompaniament, and a sermon, of which 
the approved length was an hour, measured by an hour 
glass which stood upon the pulpit," and this in a house 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 73 

where there was no fire, only the little foot-stove carried 
by a part of the women. 

"The public reading of the Bible without exposition was 
generally disapproved, being regarded as an unbecoming 
conformity to the hierarchical service. Children were bap- 
tized in the meeting-houses generally on the next Sabbath 
after their birth. Ministers did not officiate at marriages, 
the marriage contract being made before a magistrate. 
No religious service took place at the burial of the dead. 
Christmas, Good Friday, and other periodical festivities 
and fast days of the church were scrupulously disregarded 
and discountenanced." 

Possibly some of these customs and practices of the 
earlier Colonial times mentioned by Palfrey were not in 
vogue in this town in the early years of its history. 

As to other religious services in addition to the two 
preaching services on the Sabbath, in his Centennial Dis- 
course, Beach says: "Prayer meetings, as is well known, 
were once regarded with suspicion by Congregationalists. 
Mr. Bobbins held occasional mid-week services either in 
the center or in the outside districts, but they were usually 
in the form of a lecture. Meetings for prayer and con- 
ference, in which laymen participated, were for the most 
part confined to seasons of special interest. . . . During 
the great revival of 1799, a Sunday night prayer-meeting 
was started, and he took advantage of that occasion to make 
it permanent. It is said there had at that time been no 
prayer-meeting for sixteen years. Since then it has been 
continued with very few interruptions." 

In all New England towns in Colonial times, the institu- 
tion of first importance was felt to be the Church. 

The record of the organization of the church in this town 
will be briefly given. 

It was enacted in 1675 that a meeting-house must be 
erected in every town in the colony. 

Organization of the "Church of Christ" at Norfolk, Conn. 
(From the original Church Becord): 

"The Church of Christ was gathered at Norfolk, by Bev. 



74 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Daniel Farrand (of South Canaan), Dec. 24, A. D. 1760, con- 
sisting of the following members, viz.: 

Michael Humphrey and Mary his wife. 

Joseph Dean and Sarah his wife. 

Ebenezer Burr and Hephzibah his wife. 

Ezra Knap. 

Abel Phelps and Mary his wife. 

Isaac Pettibone and Hephzibah his wife. 

John Turner and Abigail his wife. 

William Barber and Abigail his wife. 

Samuel Gaylord and Thankful his wife. 

Jedediah Richards. Samuel Cole. 

Asahel Case and Dorothy his wife. 

Nehemiah Lawrence. Peter Cato. 

Test, Daniel Farrand, 
Pastor of Church of Canaan." 

The Church being formed, Michael Humphrey was chosen 
Moderator. The above named professors entered into the 
Covenant, which form is here set down as follows: 

A COVENANT. 

"You now in the presence of God, angels and men, sol- 
emnly choose God, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, to be 
your God; taking Jesus Christ to be your Redeemer and the 
Holy Spirit to be your Sanctifler, and give yourself, soul and 
body to be the Lord's, with yours, faithfully to serve hi]u 
in the ways of his appointment; seriously promising by the 
assistance of Divine grace that, denying all ungodliness 
and every worldly lust, you will live soberly in this world; 
and renouncing Satan and the world to bind yourself to walk 
with this Church in all the ordinances of the gospel; and 
that you will watch over your fellow members in meekness 
and love, and that you will submit yourself to the govern- 
ment of Christ in this Church in the administrations and 
censures of it, so far as you are directed by the unerring 
Word of God. This you voluntarialy promise." 

"August 30, 1761, taken into this Church by Rev. Mr. 




THE DEACONS' PAGE. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 75 

Farraiid: Cornelius Doud, Joseph Mills, Samuel Mills and 
Abigail Mills his wife. 

Members in full communion, added by letters of recom- 
mendation from other churches: 

James Richards and Annah his wife. 

Brotherton Seaward and Abigail his wife. 

Thankful Doud, wife of Cornelius Doud. 

Noah Allen and Sarah his wife. 

Elizabeth the wife of Joseph Seaward. 

Mary, the wife of Samuel Cornstalk. 

Ruth, the wife of Jehiel Hall. 

Cornelius Brown." 

So the Church in this town was organized, having thirty- 
five members in full communion, in August, 1761. 

Previous to this date they had occasionally enjoyed a 
preaching service in the town. 

Roys says: "The first settlers attended public worship 
in Canaan. . . . December 20, 1758, an itinerant clergy- 
man by the name of Treat was procured and preached the 
first sermon ever delivered in this town. They had occa- 
sional preaching until January, 1759. They then hired Mr. 
Joseph Peck to preach a considerable time, and also agreed 
to commence building a meeting-house. . . . November, 
1759, the people invited the Rev. Noah Wetmore to preach 
on probation, and ... in March, 1760, a call was ex- 
tended to him to become their settled pastor, . . . but he 
was rejected by the council." Soon after an unsuccessful 
effort was made to settle Mr. Noah Benedict as pastor. 

Quoting again from Roys, "In a meeting assembled June 
24, 1760, they agreed to invite Rev. Jesse Ives, brother to 
Titus Ives, to preach on probation. He was obtained, and 
December 24th following they gave him a call to settle 
over them as their gospel minister. They proceeded so far 
toward settling Mr. Ives as to offer him the minister's lot, 
and to give him a salary of £62, 10s. annually, for three 
years, and after that time to give him a salary of £70 per 
annum statedly. The time was set for his ordination, — the 
third Wednesdav of October, 1760. . . . His ordination 



76 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

for reasons not now known was postponed. In February, 
1761, another committee was appointed to attend the ex- 
amination of Mr. Ives a second time; but soon after, an al- 
tercation took place between him and one of his expected 
parishioners, . . . and the business respecting his settle- 
ment proceeded no farther. It seems the town had too 
hastily given him a deed or lease of the use of the par- 
sonage land, for he was afterwards required to quit his 
claim. His other claims against the town were not 
promptly liquidated and a law-suit was the result, which, 
after considerable delay, brought the business to a close." 

"In June, 1761, they invited Mr. Ammi Ruhamah Rob- 
bins, a young candidate for the ministry, son of the Rev. 
Philemon Robbins of Branford in this state, to preach to us 
on probation. After taking suitable time to acquaint them- 
selves with his qualifications and to deliberate on the sub- 
ject, they on the 16th of September, 1761, gave him a unani- 
mous call to take the charge of them as their minister. The 
committee informed him of the result of their deliberations, 
and proposed to him the following stipend and terms, viz.: 
to give him the lot reserved for the first settled minister, 
and an annual salary of £62, 10s. for two years, and after 
that time agreed to pay him a stated salary of £70, payable 
annually, and in produce at the market price, and fixed by 
a committee to be appointed annually for said purpose. 
(This mode of payment was continued for 45 years, when 
a contract was made.) After due consideration Mr. Rob- 
bins accepted the terms proposed, and waited their time to 
receive him as their minister." From the Church records: 
*'At a church meeting of the Church of Christ in Norfolk, 
September 28, 1761, Voted that we make choice of Mr. 
Ammi Ruhamah Robbins to be our gospel minister. Voted, 
that Michael Humphrey, Esq., and Mr. Ezra Knap be our 
committee to inform the rev'd. Association of this County 
of our choice, and desire their assistance in his ordination, 
and that said committee act for us in any other business 
in that affair that is meet." 

The following entry upon the church record of the ordi- 
nation of Mr. Robbins is of interest: 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 77 

^'October 28, 1761. The Rev'd. Ammi R. Robbing was set 
apart and solemnly ordained to the pastoral oflSce over the 
Church of Christ in Norfolk, which solemnity may the great 
Head of the Church follow with his Divine blessing. 

'The ordination council consisted of the following min- 
isters with their delegates, and a delegate from the church 
of Cornwall, viz.: Rev'ds. Philemon Robbins, Nathaniel 
Roberts, Joseph Bellamy, Jonathan Lee, Daniel Farrand, 
Judah Champion, Abel Newell, Cotton M. Smith, Sylvanus 
Osburn, Joel Bardwell, with their delegates, and a delegate 
from the church of Cornwall. 

'The Rev'd. Mr. Bellamy was chosen Moderator and 
Rev'd. Mr. Lee, Scribe. Those who assisted in imposition 
of hands, and the parts of the solemnity were these, viz.: 
Rev'd. Mr. Lee made the first prayer. Rev'd. Mr. Robbins 
preached the sermon. Rev'd. Mr. Bellamy prayed and gave 
the charge. Rev'd. Mr. Champion gave the right hand of 
fellowship, and Rev'd. Mr. Roberts made the concluding 
prayer. The whole was performed with decorum and order. 

'Test A. R. Robbins, Pastor. 

"The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was first admin- 
istered to the Church of Christ in Norfolk, April 26th. 1761, 
by the Rev'd. Mr. Farrand. Next administered August 30th, 
1761, by s'd Rev'd. Mr. Farrand. 

''December 6, 1761, the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper 
was administered to the Church of Christ in Norfolk the 
first time after said church had a pastor, per me Ammi R. 
Robbins, Pastor, and by a vote of the Church the Sacra- 
ment is to be administered five times a year." 



78 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 



VIII. 

THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR — PATRIOTIC "RESOLVES" ADOPTED IN 
TOWN-MEETING — NAMES OF MEN FROM NORFOLK WHO RESPONDED 
TO THE LEXINGTON ALARM — NAMES AND SERVICE OF MEN FROM 
NORFOLK IN THE ARMY — JOURNAL OF REV. A. R. ROBBINS WHILE 
CHAPLAIN IN THE ARMY, GIVING A MOST VIVID PICTURE OF THE 
HARDSHIPS OF ARMY LIFE IN THAT DAY. 

It is to regretted that in Dr. Roys History of Norfolk 
there is not given a fuller and more detailed account of the 
action of the town and the names at least of some of those 
who were soldiers in the Continental Army from this town, 
with facts and interesting incidents that were well known 
at the time he wrote, but have now passed beyond recall. 
He says: "The troublous times which had for several years 
been anticipated, now arrived. Their recital as to detail 
is here omitted, and the reader referred to the ofticial docu- 
ments published at large on the subject. It will be sufficient 
in this place to say, our fathers now began very sensibly 
to feel, in common with their fellow citizens throughout the 
country, the effects of British aggression, innovation, and 
unwarranted demands. Those impolitic measures on the 
side of the British, were the cause of their almost unani- 
mously and firmly imbibing that spirit of independence and 
freedom which actuated them in their subsequent and ar- 
duous struggles for the defence of their inalienable rights. 
The inhabitants of this town determined, in co-operation 
with their fellow-citizens, to withstand the torrent of abuse 
unmercifully poured upon them, and to emancipate them- 
selves from the now rude grasp of their mother-country, if 
blood as well as treasure must be the sacrifice. From the 
few public newspapers then in circulation the news of the 
day was obtained, and the public proceedings were made 
familiar to them, and they told them to their children. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 79 

''In 1774, having learned that the harbor of Boston was 
blockaded by the British, in the true spirit of Christian 
benevolence and of patriotism, they resolved in legal meet- 
ing to send relief to the inhabitants who were in distressing 
circumstances. It was timely, and though like the widow's 
mite when compared with their necessities, it was un- 
doubtedly an acceptable offering. At the same meeting 
they levied a tax of one half penny on the pound for the 
purpose of procuring powder and other ammunition for the 
use of the town, that they might be ready for any emer- 
gency calling for its use. For the same reason they estab- 
lished a pest-house for the small pox, — a disease then 
dreaded, especially if taken the natural way, almost as much 
as the hydrophobia is now. In 1774, the 30th of June, they 
received the resolves of the representatives convened at 
Hartford, and immediately called a special meeting of the 
people, who voted to approve, adopt and copy them. The 
import of the resolves was very similar to those passed in 
Philadelphia, which are copied below. 

"It is an indispensable duty which we owe to our king, 
our colony, ourselves and our posterity, by all lawful meas- 
ures and means in our power, to maintain, defend and pre- 
serve inviolate, those our rights and liberties, and to trans- 
mit them entire and inviolate to the latest generation ; and 
that it is our fixed determination and unalterable resolu- 
tion faithfully to discharge this our duty." 

The (Philadelphia) resolves above referred to, ten in num- 
ber, are for substance as follows: 

''We are entitled to life, liberty and property, and no 
foreign power has a right to dispose of either without our 
consent. We are entitled to all the rights, liberties and 
immunities of free and natural-born subjects. By our emi- 
gration we have not forfeited, surrendered or lost any of 
those rights, nor our allegiance to our rightful sovereign. 

"As we are not represented in the British parliament, 
we are entitled to a free and exclusive power of legislation 
in our several provincial legislatures, subject only to the 
negative of our sovereign. The respective colonies are en- 



80 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

titled to the common law of England, and the inestimable 
privilege of being tried by their peers of the vicinage, ac- 
cording to the course of that law. That we are entitled 
to the benefit of such of the English statutes as existed 
at the time of our colonization. That we are entitled to all 
the immunities and privileges confirmed to us by royal 
charters, or the several codes of provincial laws. We have 
a right peaceably to assemble, consider of our grievances, 
and petition the king for redress. 

''Keeping a standing army in any of our colonies without 
our consent is illegal. It is rendered essential by the Eng- 
lish constitution, that the constituent branches of the leg- 
islature be independent of each other. 

"December 26, 1774. Our peoi)le received the fourteen ar- 
ticles of agreement drawn up and signed by all the repre- 
sentatives present, in their own names and in behalf of their 
constituents, to continue until their grievances were re- 
dressed. A special (town) meeting was called, and a unani- 
mous vote given to approve of and abide by these resolves. 
They proceeded to appoint a committee of nine, whose duty 
it should be to enforce the observance of them, and a com- 
mittee of three to correspond with the other colonies on the 
subject. Appointed for said committee, Giles Pettibone, 
Esq., Dudley Humphrey, Esq., and Titus Ives.'' 

The resolves or articles of agreement referred to above 
were passed in Philadelphia in September preceding by the 
continental congress then convened. The articles follow: 
"Agreed not to import any articles from Great Britain or 
any of its colonies, or of any concerned in trade with them. 
Not to export any article to those places either directly or 
indirectly. Not to use or consume any article procured from 
those places. Not to purchase any slave imported, but 
wholly discontinue the slave trade, and not assist in any 
way to carry it on. Not to purchase any tea on which a 
duty has been or shall be paid. We will use our utmost en- 
deavors to improve the breed of sheep and increase the 
number of them. 

"We will encourage frugality, economy and industry, and 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 81 

promote agriculture, arts and manufactures, especially of 
wool. We will discourage every species of extravagance, 
and if we lose a friend or relative we will use no more ex- 
pensive dress than a piece of crape or ribbon on the arm or 
hat, and our ladies a black ribbon or necklace. 

'That the manufactures of this country shall be sold at 
reasonable prices. That we will have no intercourse with 
any colony which shall not accede to or which shall violate 
this association. That a committee shall be appointed in 
every town, whose duty it shall be to enforce the observance 
of these resolves and agreements. 

"The committee appointed for the above purpose in this 
town were faithful in the discharge of their duty. They 
were Giles Pettibone, Dudley Humphrey, Titus Watson, 
Samuel Mills and Andrew^ Moore.'' 

As has been well said: "The attitude assumed by the 
colonists at the beginning of the struggle was that of vigi- 
lance and self-defence. ♦ * ♦ The crisis culminated on 
April 19, 1775. A detachment of British troops marching 
out from Boston to seize military stores alleged to have 
been collected at Concord for hostile purposes, was met 
upon the road by the Provincials, and a bloody encounter 
took place. The since famous skirmishes of Lexington and 
Concord were fought, which precipitated the Revolutionary 
war. An alarm was immediately spread in every direction." 

The news quickly reached this distant town, and a most 
creditable response was made, twenty-four men being found 
ready to march at scarcely more than a moment's notice, for 
the assistance of the Massachusetts colonists. The names 
of the men found in the oflScial ''List of the men w^ho 
marched from the Connecticut towns for the relief of Bos- 
ton in the Lexington alarm, April, 1775, from the town of 
Norfolk," are as follows: Timothy Gaylord, captain; Ser- 
geants, Samuel Cowles, Titus Watson, Brotherton Seward; 
Clerk, William Hewett. 

Privates — Ephraim Parker, Elijah Pettibone, Samuel 
Hotchkiss, Samuel Hotchkiss, Jr., Andrew Lester, Jeffery 
Murray, Caleb Aspinwall, Thomas Curtiss, Ebenezer Hoyt, 



82 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Jared Abernathy, Freedom Wright, Titus Brown, Timothy 
Gaylord, 2nd, Nathaniel Field, Phineas Norton, Amariah 
Plumb, David Orvis, Benjamin Tuttle, Abraham Beach. 

No complete list was kept or has been preserved or dis- 
covered of the names of the men who served in the army 
during the Revolutionary War. By a resolution of the 
General Assembly of this state, approved March, 1886, and 
April, 1887, providing for a record of service of Connecticut 
men in the late civil war, it was also provided "That the 
Adjutant General be authorized to publish * * * a 
catalogue or roll, containing the names and records of those 
soldiers who served in Connecticut organizations * * * dur- 
ing the War of the Revolution, the war of 1812 with Great 
Britain, and the Mexican War." This most valuable work, 
compiled from the records, pay-rolls of Connecticut regi- 
ments, official manuscripts in the archives of the state, and 
in the departments of the General Government at Washing- 
ton, and papers in the hands of descendants of Revolution- 
ary soldiers contains 27,823 names of men from Connecti- 
cut; but in a large number of instances there is no means 
of ascertaining from what town the soldiers enlisted, or to 
learn who should be credited to Norfolk. 

The following list of soldiers was published as an appen- 
dix to the historic sermon of Rev. J. W. Beach, which was 
delivered in this town July 9, 1876. A considerable part of 
this Revolutionary War material used by Mr. Beach is 
found in Dr. Eldridge's manuscripts: 

REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS FROM NORFOLK. 

"This list has been gathered from a variety of sources, and is by 
no means complete. It does not follow that a given man served 
only during the term given below. Of some it is only known that 
they were afterwards pensioners. 

"Rev. A. R. Robbins, chaplain in Burrell's regiment, from March 
18, to October 31, 1776, in Canada. 

Ozias Bingham, served in Canada May, 1775, to Sept. 3, 1775; 
was put in jail at Litchfield for debt the next winter, and in order 
to be released, enlisted in Col. Heman Swift's regiment, Feb. 2, 1776, 
and on application to the Legislature was permitted to leave jail 
and join the regiment, upon his giving a note for the debt. 



HISTORY OF NOEFOLK. 83 

Levi Barnum, in Canada in the campaign of 1775, was taken 
prisoner with Ethan Allen and sent to England in irons, and re- 
turned only after great hardships. 

Peter Noble, enlisted in May, 1775, in John Watson's company, 
Hinman's regiment, and was taken prisoner with Allen, as above. 

Ebenezer Mack, of same regiment, was also taken prisoner with 
Allen, and remained in close confinement 19 months, was sick much 
of the time, lost all his baggage, was carried to Quebec, to England 
and Ireland, thence to Cape Fear, S. C, Halifax, and finally New 
York, whence he escaped, and came home in April, 1777. 

Jesse Tobey, Sergeant, Hinman's regiment. May, 1775, to Sept. 
28, 1775. 

Samuel Hotchkiss, private, Hinman's regiment. May, 1775, to 
Sept. 28, 1775. 

Roger Orvis, private, Hinman's regiment. May, 1775, to Nov. 20, 
1775. 

Jasper Murray, private, Hinman's regiment. May, 1775, to Nov. 
20, 1775. 

Daniel Pettibone, private, Hinman's regiment. May, 1775, to Nov. 
20, 1775. 

Andrew Lester, private, Hinman's regiment. May, 1775, to Nov. 
20, 1775, besides answering Lexington alarm. 

— Nathaniel Field, private, Hinman's regiment. May, 1775, to Nov. 
20, 1775, and Lexington alarm. 

♦ Freedom Wright, private, Hinman's regiment, May, 1775, to 
Sept. 4, 1775, and Lexington alarm. 

Abraham Beach, private, Hinman's regiment. May, 1775, to Sept. 
6, 1775, and Lexington alarm. 

Jehiel Hull, private, Hinman's regiment. May, 1775, to Nov. 20, 
1775; also served five months in 1780, in Swift's regiment, Capt. 
Converse's company, at the Highlands. 

Amariah Plumb, answered Lexington alarm, was private in Can- 
ada campaign, May, 1775, to Nov. 20, 1775, during which he was 
wounded at tlie siege of St. Johns, and bis thigh bone broken, was 
captured and held as a prisoner there a few days, till the fortress 
surrendered, then made his way home with great difficulty, received 
£25 special grant from the State, and died March 1, 1778. 

Jotham Parker, served under Hinman from May, 1775, to Nov. 
20, 1775, as private. Re-enlisted as Captain of teams in 1777, in the 
Commissary Department, and served a long time. 
Darius Phelps served May, 1775, to Sept. 7, 1775. 
Eden Mills, served in latter part of the war. 
Jedediah White, pensioner. 

Charles Walter, in Conn, line, 3 years, Bradley's regiment. 
Eleazer Holt, present at Burgoyne's surrender. 



84 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Nicholas Holt, enlisted in 1775, in Watson's company, took small- 
pox in crossing Lake George, and leaped into the water, which 
caused the disease to settle in his hip, and made him lame for life. 

Stephen Holt, present at Burgoyne's surrender in Oct., 1777, and 
also at burning of Danbury. 

Thomas Curtis, enlisted Feb., 1776, took small-pox in the army, 
died, and was buried at Stillwater, N. Y.; also had marched after 
Lexington. 

Hopestill Welch, served in French war, as well as Revolution. 

Salathiel Dunbar, May, 1775, to March 19, 1775. 

Solomon Curtis, a short term, when under age, in latter part of 
war, 

Titus Watson, Lieutenant in John Watson's company, under 
Hinman, in 1775, Captain in Burrell's regiment, Feb., 1776, to Feb., 
1777, and afterward was Captain in Col. Heman Swift's regiment 
for three years; also marched after Lexington. 

John Trowbridge, private. May, 1775, to Nov. 26, 1775, in Hin- 
man's regiment; afterwards enlisted in Conn, line for three years, 
where he was Corporal. 

Moses Turner, Corporal Conn, line, was in service three years, 
April, 1777. to April 6, 1780. 

Elijah Knapp, Corporal, Conn, line, three years. 

Aaron Aspinwall, private. Conn, line, three years. 

Asahel Adams, private. Conn, line, three years. 

Caleb Aspinwall, private, under Hinman, May to Sept. 6, 1775. 
in Canada, and marched after Lexington, and in Conn, line three 
years. 

Joel Hamblin, private in Conn, line, three years. 

Nathan Tubbs, private, in Conn, line, three years. 

Levi Norton, private, in Conn, line, three years. 

Reuben Stevens, private, in Conn, line, three years. 

Samuel Orvis, private. In Conn, line, three years. 

Caleb Sturtevant, private, in Conn, line, three years. 

John Walter, private, in Conn, line, three years. 

Elnathan Seward, private, in Conn, line, three years. 

Abraham Knapp, private, in Conn, line, three years. 

Rufus Trail, private, in Conn, line, three years; also five months 
and nine days in latter part of 1780 at Highlands. 

James Benedict, Jr., a minor, enlisted in May, 1777, for three 
years, in Titus Watson's company, Heman Swift's regiment, marched 
to Peekskill, taken sick, suffered much, tried to march, reached 
White Plains, and Rye, sick again; no friends to help him there, and 
was finally brought home to Norfolk at his father's expense, with a 
broken constitution. Assembly granted him special relief. 

Hiland Hall, in Conn, line for three yearSj was Deputy Commis- 
sary. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 85 

Bates Turner, in Conn, line, April, 1777, to April, 1780, and after- 
ward in short levy 5 1-2 months at Highlands. July to Dec, 1780. 

Silas Cowles, in Conn, line for three years. 

Edward Fuller, in Connecticut line, three years. 

William Turner, in Connecticut line, three years. 

Jonas Hubbard, in Connecticut line, three years. 

Lemuel Sperry, in Connecticut line, three years. 

Eliezer Orvis, enlisted for three years in 1777, but died Nov. 15, 
1778. 

Nathan Sturtevant, also enlisted for three years in 1777, but died 
Oct. 1, 1777. 

Daniel Hoskins, was in service four months. 

Thomas Tibbals, first was drummer in Theodore Woodbridge's 
company, Wooster's regiment, from Nov. 18, 1775, to Feb. 29, 1776; 
then was drum major in the Northern army, in Col. Elmore's regi- 
ment, from April 15, 1776, to April 27, 1777. Afterward re-enlisted 
more than once as teamster in the Quartermaster's service, and was 
out in all nearly four years. Spent one winter at Ft. Stanwix, one 
at Mt. Independence, and one in Canada. 

Samuel Tibbals, an older brother of Thomas, was captain of 
teams in the Quartermaster's service for a year from March, 1777, 
and was then discharged on account of broken health. 

Elizur Hunger was a teamster. 

Reuben Munger was sergeant; time of service unknown. 

Arial Lawrence served two short terms in special calls on the 
militia; was at Saratoga on a four months' term when Burgoyne 
surrendered; was a man of great physical endurance; is said to 
have walked from a point six miles beyond Troy, where he was 
discharged, to Norfolk in one day. 

Daniel Canfield, pensioner. 

Abiathar Rogers, pensioner. 

David Heady, pensioner. 

Jedidiah Richards, Jr. 

Ebenezer Plumbly. 

Jeremiah W. Phelps, a short term. 

Asher Smith. y 

John Beach. 

Giles Gay lord, served in New York in 1782; also under John 
Watson, May to November, 1775, in Canada. 

Lieutenant Phelps, served in New York in 1782. Possibly was 
the same as Elijah Phelps mentioned below. 

Simeon Mills was in Burrell's regiment, with Rev. Mr. Bobbins, 
in 1776; had small pox, not properly cared for, and it became chronic, 
producing large, foul ulcers, which remained a long time; was sent 
home in September, 1776, and was confined to his bed and chair till 



86 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

autumn, 1779. Assembly of Connecticut voted him then £800 to 
pay his bills, of which £200 was doctor's bill. 

Isaac Butler, five months at Highlands, 1780, Swift's regiment. 

William Leach, five months at Highlands, 1780, Swift's regiment. 

.John Minor, five months at Highlands. 1780, Swift's regiment. 

James Sturdivant, five months at Highlands, 1780, Swift's regi- 
ment. 

Silas Steward, five and a half months at Highlands, 1780, Swift's 
regiment. 

Samuel Taylor, five and a half months at Highlands, 1780, Swift's 
regiment. 

Abraham Barden, four months at Highlands, 1780, Swift's regi- 
ment. 

Roswell Grant, five months at Highlands, 1780, Swift's regiment. 

Giles Thrall, four and a half months at Highlands, 1780, Swift's 
regiment. 

Luther Lawrence, four months and twenty-one days at High- 
lands, in 1780, in Philip B. Bradley's regiment. 

Arial Strong, five months, July to December, 1780, at Highlands. 

Deacon Samuel Cowles, ensign, was in skirmish at White Plains, 
and perhaps also in Canada campaign. He marched after Lexing- 
ton, also. 

Noah Cowles, son of Samuel, entered service very young as 
musician, probably a drummer. Was at Burgoyne's surrender at 
Saratoga. 

Jared Abernathy, marched at the Lexington alarm; was in Bur- 
rell's regiment, 1776-7, a full year in Canada; had hospital expenses, 
£7 8s. 

Ludd Gaylord, son of Justis, enlisted at the age of seventeen, in 
what portion of the army is unknown. There were many who con- 
spired together to desert, and in the paper drawn up wrote their 
names in a circle so that the leaders might not be known. The plot 
was discovered and all were searched; one who had the paper slipped 
it into Ludd's pocket; he was offered pardon if he would reveal the 
leaders' names. On his refusal, he was condemned to die. His 
friends obtained a pardon from Washington, which had almost 
reached the boy when he was executed. 

Ambrose Gaylord, another son of Justis, was in the Continental 
line in the latter part of the war. 

Gaylord, a third son of Justis, was with Ambrose at fhe 

same time. 

Elijah Phelps was in Northern army in 1776. 

Andrew Moor, lieutenant, went to Canada in February, 1776, 
and died June 9, following. 

Eli Pettibone was in Col. Warner's regiment in 1776. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 87 

Giles Pettibone was captain of the Norfolk militia company 
when the war opened. Besides his home work for the service (de- 
scribed in the sermon of Mr. Beach), he led his company to Saratoga 
in the alarm of 1777. Probably all those here mentioned as present 
at that fight were under him, besides many others. With the same 
company he served one or two terms a little later under McDougal, 
on the Hudson below West Point, keeping a lookout between the 
American and British lines, a work requiring peculiar vigilance and 
skill. At the end of his term he received public approbation from 
his commander in the presence of the army. He obtained the rank 
of major before the war closed. 

Samuel Pettibone, served In Canada and other parts. 

The following (besides those already mentioned) marched toward 
Boston immediately upon the Lexington alarm in April, 1775. It is 
not known how far they went before they were sent back; the time 
during which some of them served would indicate that they reached 
Boston. Their pay was sixteen pence per day. 

Captain Timothy Gaylord. fifteen days. 

William Hewet, fifteen days. 

Ephraim Parker, sixteen days; also in French War. 

Elijah Pettibone. sixteen days. 

Samuel Hotchkiss, Sen., sixteen days. 

Jeffrey Murray, fourteen days. 

Ebenezer Hoyt, five days. 

Titus Brown, four days. 

Brotherton Seward, forty-seven days. 

Timothy Gaylord, 2d, thirty-two days. 

Phineas Norton, thirty-two days. 

Benjamin Tuttle, thirty-two days. 

David Orvis, thirty-two days. 

Michael Mills, captain, at West Point eleven days in June, 1780. 

In October, 1780, Norfolk was required to furnish twenty-two 
more men for Continental service, and in November following three 
men were sent as quota to cavalry company. It also furnished six 
recruits for the guard at Horseneck, in May, 1781. Captain Michael 
Mills' company, of Col. Hutchins' regiment, was ordered to West 
Point in June, 1780, and remained there eleven days, of which com- 
pany fifteen were Norfolk men. The names of none of these have 
been found, though some of them may be the same who appear 
above in other enlistments. 

A boy, Stephen , was servant to Mr. Robbing in campaign 

of 1776, and probably from Norfolk." 

In addition to the foregoing list of Revolutionary soldiers 
from this town, the following is from the best authorities to 
be found: 



88 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Capt. Titus Watson was in 1818 living in New York, a Revolu- 
tionary pensioner. 

Jesse Tobey was Quartermaster Sergeant in Col. Moseley's regi- 
ment, Capt. Stoddard's company, at Fort Clinton on the Hudson for 
two months, 1778. 

Samuel Hotchkiss, marched at the Lexington alarm; was in 
Capt. Hooker's company, Col. Wolcott's regiment, at Boston, Janu- 
ary to March, 1776. He was Corporal in Capt. Stoddard's company. 
Col. Hooker's regiment, at Peekskill, March to June, 1777. Was in 
Capt. Peek's company. Col. Enos' battalion of minute men, Sept., 
1777. Was in Third regiment. Conn, line, 1778. Was in Capt. Brad- 
ley's company of Artillery at New Haven during Tyron's invasion of 
Connecticut, Feb., 1779, to 1780. Was living at Burlington, a pen- 
sioner, age 84, 1840. 

Samuel Hotchkiss, Jr., marched at Lexington alarm. 

Roger Orvis, was a pensioner, residing in Vermont, 1818. 

Jasper Murray was in Capt. Beebe's company, Col. Enos' regi- 
ment, on the Hudson, for three months, 1778. 

Andrew Lester was in Capt. Dickinson's company. Col. Elmore's 
regiment, 1776. Was Corporal In Capt. Kimball's company, at Fort 
Dayton, German Flats, 1777 to 1780. 

Ephraim Coy was a Fifer In Sixth Continental regiment. May to 
Dec, 1775. He was then only 13 years old. Was in First regiment. 
Conn, line, April, 1777, to June, 1778. A pensioner in 1832. 

Charles Walter was in Third regiment. Col. Webb's, Conn, line, 
from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 1781. A pensioner 1818. 

Nicholas Holt, an invalid pensioner. 

Josiah Hotchkiss, in Col. Hinman's regiment, 1775. 

Brotherton Seward, was in Second regiment. Conn. Militia, Gen, 
Spencer's, raised on first call for troops; served from May till Dec, 
1775. 

Solomon Curtiss, was Corporal in Capt. Abel Pettibone's com- 
pany. Col. Belden's regiment, at Peekskill, March till June, 1777. 

Moses Turner, was a pensioner, residing in Vermont 1818. 

Elijah Knapp, was Sergeant in Capt. SL John's company under 
command of Marquis de LaFayette, Feb. to Nov., 1781; was Ser- 
geant in Capt. Comstock's company. Second regiment, Jan. to 
June, 1783. 

Aaron Aspinwall, was a pensioner, residing in New York, 1818. 

Levi Norton, was a pensioner, 1818. 

Samuel Orvis, was a pensioner, residing in New York 1818. 

Caleb Sturdevant, was a pensioner, residing in New York 1818. 

John Walter, was a pensioner, residing in New York 1818. 

Edward Fuller, was a pensioner 1818. 

William Turner, was a pensioner 1818. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 89 

Jonas Hubbard, was a pensioner, residing in Vermont 1818. 

James Benedict, was a pensioner 1832. 

Daniel Hoskins, was in Lieut. Case's company, in 18th regiment, 
Conn. Militia, at New Yorlj, Aug. to Sept., 1776; was in 2nd regiment, 
"Conn, line," along the Hudson, under General Putnam, August, 
1779, to January, 1780. 

Heman Watson, mentioned in Mr. Bobbins' Journal of the 
"Northern Campaign of 1776," was doubtless a son of Capt. Titus 
Watson of Norfolk, and was in the service in August of that year. 

Lieut. Samuel Pettibone, father of Deacon Amos Pettibone, was 
in Bradley's Battalion, stationed in the summer and fall of 1776 at 
Bergen Heights and Paulus Hook (now Jersey City). In October 
of that year it moved up the river to the vicinity of Fort Lee, then 
under Gen. Greene's command. In November most of the regiment 
was sent across to assist in defending Fort Washington. On the 
fall of the fort, Nov. 16, this regiment, with the entire garrison, 
was captured, and Lieut. Pettibone was one of the prisoners. 

Sergeant Simeon Mills, enlisted in the 7th company of Seventh 
regiment. Col. Webb, July, 1775. They were stationed at various 
points along the sound. September 14, on requisition from Gen. 
Washington, the regiment was ordered to the Boston camps, as- 
signed to Gen. Sullivan's brigade on Winter Hill. Their term of 
service expired Dec, '75. "He died in 1788, after enduring great 
hardship in the service of his country in the Revolutionary War. 
An old gray stone marks his grave in the Norfolk Cemetery." 

Mr. Norman Riggs remembers Capt. John Bradley well, as he 
lived in their neighborhood, and heard him relate that he and his 
company arrived near Saratoga in a detachment that came in late 
in the day, but during the battle that preceded Burgoyne's surren- 
der. In his company were a number of Norfolk men from the 
South End District. Gen. Arnold, when told that the men had 
nothing to eat, ordered that casks of rum be rolled out, cups dis- 
tributed, that the men drink and hurry into the battle,— which they 
did, arriving in time to participate and to see men falling all 
around them. 

Luther Lawrence, brother of Ariel, was in Bradley's regiment 
at Highlands four months in 1780.— Constantine Mills, born in Nor- 
folk in 1761, son of Deacon Joseph Mills, enlisted in the army in 
August, 1778, at the age of seventeen. He was in the battle at the 
burning of Fairfield by the British, July, 1779.— Titus Brown, al- 
though more than sixty years old, was one of those who responded 
to the Lexington alarm from Norfolk, marching in Capt. Gaylord's 
company for the relief of Boston. He was also in a short campaign 
at New York, in the Ninth regiment Conn. Militia, Capt. David 
Halt's company, in August and September, 1776, and was again in 



90 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

the same Ninth regiment, under Gen. Wooster, in Capt. Charles 
Smith's company, at the Westchester border, from Nov., 1776, to 
Dec, 1777. He died in this town Feb., 1802, aged 88. (The writer 
knows of more than one hundred direct descendants now living of 
his daughter, Betty Brown, who married Daniel Burr of this town). 

"Lieut. Giles Gaylord of Norfolk," was in "Wooster's Provisional 
Regiment," organized for service from Dec, '75, to the opening of 
1776; serving before Quebec until operations there were abandoned 
in May, '76. He was also a conductor of eleven "teamsters of teams 
for transporting supplies from Conn, to the Continental army in 
1777." 

Samuel Tibbals was a "conductor of ten teamsters," same time 
and services as Lieut. Gaylord. 

First Lieut. Titus Ives, of Capt. Beebe's company, Col. Roger 
Knos' regiment, served for three months on the Hudson, from .June 
25, 1778. 

Richard Beckley, originally from Wethersfield, was in Col. Sher- 
burn's and S. B. Webb's regiments; enlisted Feb. 26, 1778. Served on 
the Hudson, on Long Island, in Rhode Island and New Jersey. Dis- 
charged Jan. 1, 1781. Settled in Norfolk. In 1840, at the age of 80, 
was a pensioner. 

John Strong, served in the Conn, line; was a pensioner in 1840, 
age 79. A sketch of Mr. Strong is given elsewhere. 

Reuben Palmer, served in Capt. Gillett's company. Col. Enos' 
regiment, on the Hudson, 3 months, 1778. Pensioner 1840, age 79. 

Joseph Rockwell, served in short campaigns, in New York '75, 
'76, '77; was Ensign in Capt. Yate's company. Col. Enos' regimenf, 
on the Hudson, 1778. A pensioner in 1840, age 82. 

Ichabod Atwater, in Capt. Bryant's company. Col. Thomson's 
regiment of militia at Peekskill, Oct., '77. Pensioner 1840, age 80. 

Hessibah Warner, pensioner in Norfolk 1840. age 79. 

Ephraim Brown, in Conn, line July to Nov., 1780. 

Daniel White, in Militia '76, '77. In Capt. Mat. Smith's com- 
pany. Prisoner from Feb., '80, to June, '82. His widow was a 
pensioner in 1840. Probably this name should be Matthew White. 

Capt. Benedict is mentioned in Chaplain Bobbins' Journal as at 
Chamblee, Canada, April, 1776. 

Abiathar Rogers, in Conn, line, '77 and '78. 

Jedediah Richards, was in Wadsworth's Brigade; served in New 
York and on Long Island, 1776. 

Ebenezer Plumbley was in Bradley's battalion; taken prisoner at 
Fort Washington, Nov., 1776. In Col. Roger Enos' regiment of Conn. 
State troops in a three months' campaign on the Hudson, from June 
25, 1778. One of Norfolk's prominent citizens, Titus Ives, was 
First Lieutenant in Capt. Beebe's company. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 91 

Nicholas Holt, auotlier prominent citizen of the town, men- 
tioned in the list of soldiers as compiled by Mr. Beach, is given only 
in the "Record" as a "disabled pensioner," under act of Congress, 
1833-4. 

Daniel Pettibone, was in Col. Hinman's regiment in the opera- 
tions of the Northern Department from April to December, 1775. 

Joseph Hall was a private in Capt. Beebe's company, as men- 
tioned above, in 1778. 

In the militia service from Norfolk, for defence of the sea-coast 
and frontiers until March, 1780, were the following; 

William French, Jeremiah Wilcox Phelps, Bela Bishop, Elijah 
Mason, Joseph Phelps and Elijah Pettibone. 

Sergeant John Beach, in Capt. Lewis' company, Wadsworth's 
brigade, time of attack on New York, Sept., 1776. 

Elijah Phelps, was in Conn, line, 1781; "marched to southard 
under La Fayette." 

Isaac Butler, was in 2nd company. Gen. Spencer's regiment, 1775. 

Jupiter Mars, a slave, father of Deacon James Mars, served in 
the Revolutionary army, doubtless as servant of some officer. 

Silas Cole was in Col. Moses Hazen's regiment, in a "company 
largely from New Haven County." Served in Washington's main 
army, from Jan. 1, '77, to the end of the war; was engaged at 
Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth and at siege and surrender 
of Yorktown. 

The only mention of Asahel Case in the "Record of Connecticut 
men in the War of the Revolution" is in the "Seventh regiment. Col. 
Charles Webb, raised by order of the Assembly, July session, 177.5. 
In the 7th company was Asahel Case. Term of service, July 21 to 
Dec. 20, 1775." 

This regiment was stationed at various points along the sound 
until Sept. 14th, when it was ordered to Boston. Among the pen- 
sioners living in 1832 in Litchfield County we find Asahel Case. Mr. 
Obadiah Smith, a grandson of Capt. Asahel Case, Jun., says tEat 
both his grandfather and his great-grandfather, Capt. Asahel Case, 
Sen., who are mentioned elsewhere, were in the Revolutionary ser- 
vice, the elder having been Ensign. 

Miles Riggs, one of the early residents of the South End 
District, is reported in the "Record" only as in Col. Roger 
Enos' Regiment, Capt. Beebe's Company, for a three 
months' campaign on the Hudson in 1778. It was probably 
during this time of service that the Colonial army had 
stretched a chain (the ends securely fastened on either 
shore) across the Hudson near White Plains, thinking thus 



92 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

to prevent the British from ascending the river. Aware 
of this attempted obstruction, the British, under a strong 
south wind, sent a number of their strongest ships abreast, 
under full sail, up the river, and the Americans' chain could 
in no wise resist their mighty power, but gave way at once. 
Mr. Riggs frequently in his after life related the above as 
what he saw when in the service. Upon his discharge at 
White Plains he returned to his home in Norfolk, reaching 
here in the evening, to find his two children lying dead in 
his house and his wife at death's door (from ''camp dis- 
temper," so-called), and she also died before the next morn- 
ing. Mr. Riggs went with a company of soldiers with a 
load of baggage and supplies for the army from Norfolk to 
Saratoga, reaching the latter place about the time of Bur- 
goyne's surrender. The team for the trip was a pair of 
oxen and a two-wheeled cart belonging to Capt. Hosea 
Wilcox, with Mr. Miles Riggs' horse ahead. On the way, 
above Albany, as they were crossing a small, deep river, 
perhaps the Hoosac, the bridge over which was insecure 
and "teetered," the oxen were afraid, and the stronger ox 
crowded the other off the side of the bridge, the horse 
pulling in the opposite direction. A projecting plank 
helped to hold the unfortunate ox suspended by the neck 
until the bow was removed, when he dropped into the 
river, and at the same instant the horse dropped off the 
opposite side of the bridge into the river. Both ox and 
horse reached the shore, were tackled up again and re- 
sumed their journey. (Mr. Norman Riggs, who related 
these incidents to me, heard when a boy his grandfather, 
Mr. Miles Riggs, relate them repeatedly). 

Another of Mr. Miles Riggs' remembrances of the Revo- 
lutionary war which he used to relate was, that when he 
was at White Plains in the service he saw there General 
Washington upon a young, fiery appearing horse, with a 
long, heavy tail. The horse seemed a little frightened, but 
Gen. Washington was unmoved. Riding next to Gen. 
Washington was Gen. Israel Putnam, and the other officers 
following two by two. 



mSTOEY OF NORFOLK. 93 

(As is mentioned in another chapter, some of the links of 
that immense chain which the Americans stretched across 
the Hudson River to prevent the British from ascending 
the river are said to have been made in Norfolk, at the old 
"Iron Works," and some at the Hanchett's Forge, on 
Canaan Mountain). 

Col. Ethan Allen's expedition, in which he surprised 
and captured Ticonderoga and Crown Point, "in the name 
of the Lord Jehovah and of the Continental Congress," is 
a familiar fact to all readers of the history of the Revolu- 
tionary period. This expedition originated at Hartford, 
and most of those who entered into it were members of the 
Colonial General Assembly. J. W. Beach, in his centennial 
discourse, 1876, gives the following: "Few know that Nor- 
folk was represented in this expedition, not, indeed, by a 
man, but by a horse. Capt. Edward Mott of Preston was 
sent with sixteen men from Hartford to take those forts, 
and ordered to gather more among Warner's men in Berk- 
shire and among the Green Mountain Boys under Allen at 
Bennington. Of course speed was essential to ensure suc- 
cess. Norfolk was directly in their path to Berkshire, and 
when they reached this town one of their horses gave out, 
and Capt. Mott applied to the selectmen for another horse. 
Samuel Knapp, grandfather of Col. Horace Bushnell 
Knapp, was the prompt and patriotic man who complied 
with their request. His horse was loaned, being first ap- 
praised at £16 10s., Mott paying 15s. cash down. On the 
return of the animal, a few weeks later, bearing ample 
evidence of having been to war, the appraisers judged that 
the owner ought to receive £5, 'the horse being so much 
damnified.' The bill was sent in to the Colony Treasurer, 
with the 15s. honestly deducted, and was promptly paid, 
and Knapp's receipt for £4 5s. is still extant at Hartford." 

"While Washington was investing Boston, after the 
Battle of Bunker Hill, an expedition to Canada was also 
planned and placed under Generals Schuyler and Mont- 
gomery. To this Connecticut sent two regiments, and one 
of them, under Col. Hinman, was recruited from this part 



94 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

of the state, in which the first regular Norfolk soldiers 
were enlisted in May, 1775, for seven months. Their Cap- 
tain was John Watson of Canaan — we have the names of at 
least twenty of his company who were from this town, and 
there were probably more. They participated in the siege 
of St. Johns, and in a variety of other actions. Three of 
them were with Ethan Allen in his brave though irregular 
and foolhardy attempt to take Montreal by surprise, Sep- 
tember 25th of that year, and were taken prisoners with 
him. Their names were Peter Noble, Ebenezer Mack and 
Levi Barnum. Peter Noble was a sharer of Ethan Allen's 
privations, which are graphically described in the latter's 
published narrative. They were kept in irons during much 
of their captivity and experienced constant indignity and 
insult from those who had the care of them. They were 
shipped from Quebec to England and thence to Ireland, and 
were kept there some time, being constantly threatened 
with hanging. They were finally sent back to this country 
as prisoners of war in a fleet which anchored in Cape Fear 
harbor, North Carolina. Noble, either by nature or by 
association with Allen, was a plucky fellow, and embraced 
his first chance to escape from his vessel, the "Sphynx," 
while at anchor, and by what Allen describes as '^extraor- 
dinary swimming," reached the shore in safety, and 
thence made his way home as best he might, and was prob- 
ably the first to give information concerning the harsh treat- 
ment received by the prisoners. Through his affidavit 
Daniel Mack, father of Ebenezer Mack above mentioned, 
was enabled to draw his son's back pay, and on learning at 
a later time that his son was still a prisoner at New York, 
sent him on a portion of the money, by the aid of which he 
made his escape and reached home in safety after fourteen 
months' imprisonment." 

Among the manuscripts left by Dr. Eldridge is the fol- 
lowing Revolutionary War record of Mr. John Strong, 
which was furnished Dr. Eldridge by Mr. .James M. Cowles, 
the year unfortunately not being given. Mr. Strong, after 
the Revolutionarv War, came to Norfolk and lived until 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 95 

his death, in 1846, at the age of 86, on the farm and in the 
house now the home of Mrs. Thomas Tibbals, adjoining Dr. 
Dennis' summer residence on the north. He left his prop- 
erty to the town of Norfolk, having no children, his wife 
having died the year previous to his death. The annual 
interest of this '^Strong Fund" is about |130, as the recent 
town reports show. Mr. Cowles wrote as follows: 

"The following is from Mr. Strong, taken down by myself 
the 5th of March last: 

"Mr. John Strong enlisted into the army in March, 1776, 
being then between 16 and 17 years of age. He was one of 
100 men from Torrington and Litchfield, all volunteers; 
Col. Beebe of Litchfield, then our Captain; Jesse Cook of 
Torringford, Lieutenant. Went directly to New York and 
remained there three weeks, and then was stationed in 
New Jersey after the taking of Fort Washington. Our 
suffering was intense; many of our number died. From 
October to the 1st of January we had no shelter to sleep 
under but the canopy of heaven. About December 20th 
the snow fell to a great depth, which added much to our 
suffering. Previous to this fall of snow many a night I 
have marched in the rain with the water and mud half leg 
deep. Was one that escaped when Fort Washington was 
taken by the British, when about 500 of the Americans 
were captured. Was near when Andre was captured, and 
many times was placed guard over him; w^as within ten or 
twelve feet of him when hung. Have often gone forty-eight 
hours without food, and then but partially supplied with 
Indian meal. Snow was so deep it took me seventeen days 
to get home. 

"In August, 1777, I went again to New Jersey; was there 
eight months. The British were stationed at this time in 
New York; about the time of the taking of Burgoyne and 
of the arrival of the French troops with General Lafayette 
for their commander. In 1778 was ordered to White Plains 
as minute man, and from there to Bergen Point, within a 
half mile of the British army. After this was stationed in 
Peekskill until my time of service expired." 



96 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

"The annexed Companies marched from the towns in 
Connecticut for the relief of Boston in the Lexington 
Alarm, April, 1775. 

"Norfolk, Captain Timothy Gaylord, 24 men. 

Simsbiiry, Captain Amos Wilcox, 25 men. 

Hartford, Captain Abraham Sedgwick, 33 men. 

New Haven, Captain Hezekiah Dickerman, 9 men." 

(Norfolk was certainly well represented.) 

"Money paid by Connecticut to the inhabitants of Nor- 
folk for their services and expenses in the Lexington Alarm 
in April, 1775, per order of the Assembly, £66 9s. 2d. 

(Hinman's Rev. War.) 

"On the 16th of September, 1776, Ebenezer Mack and 
Levi Barnum of Norfolk were confined in one room at Hali- 
fax among felons, thieves, negroes, etc." 

(Hinman's Rev. War.) 

One main purpose of this Revolutionary war history is the 
hope of giving those who may read it now, and those who 
will come after us, some adequate idea of who and what 
kind of men and women our ancestors, the early settlers of 
this town were, by recounting some of their labors, suffer- 
ings and hardships in settling and establishing these our 
homes and this our government. 

We sometimes speak in praise of our Revolutionary sires, 
and possibly imagine that we realize what they endured in 
order that this might be the land of the free, but I believe 
very few of us have even the slightest conception of the 
sacrifices made, the sufferings endured, the privations ex- 
■ perienced, the pain, the sorrow, the anguish borne by tens 
of thousands in the army, on the battle field, in the hos- 
pitals, in the tents of the sick, the wounded, the dying, 
in those days and nights of agony, lying on the ground, 
without food, clothing or shelter, longing for home and for 
the loving ministry of a dear mother's hand to cool the 
fevered brow and quench the burning thirst. The "Jour- 
nal" kept by Rev. Ammi R. Robbins of this town. Chap- 
lain in the army, from March until November, 1776, gives 
such a vivid picture of all these things, the real life and 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 97 

experience of those soldiers as he saw it, endured it, and 
was himself almost crushed by it during those eight months 
in the campaign toward Quebec, where he stood with the 
men, helping them bear their heavy burdens, — preaching 
the gospel to them, nursing, comforting, praying with them 
when sick and suffering, pointing them when dying to the 
only source of light, the Redeemer of men, — for these rea- 
sons part of this Journal is given here, though much con- 
densed, believing that it will give all who may ever read it 
a better, fuller idea of what our fathers suffered and our 
liberties cost them than we have ever had before. 

Extracts from the "Journal of the Rev. Ammi R. Rob- 
bins, a chaplain in the American Army, in the Northern 
Campaign of 1776." 

"A brief Journal of some of the more remarkable events 
in my tour to Canada." 

"Monday, March 18, 1776. Took an affectionate leave of 
home; came to Canaan; met the Colonel and proceeded 
with a considerable retinue to SheflSeld. Rev. Mr. Farrand 
(of Canaan) accompanied us. He and I dined at brother 
Keep's (Rev. John Keep of Sheffield). Had a most agree- 
able interview; prayed together and parted- in the most 
tender and friendly manner. Very bad riding, but pro- 
ceeded to Coles' in Nobletown. Lodged comfortably. 

Tuesday, 19. Rose early, and in company rode five miles 
to breakfast, cheerful and comfortable. Proceeded to Kin- 
derhook, thence to Greeobush, put out our horses, crossed 
the river at dark and came into Albany. 

Wednesday, 20. Found Colonel Buel and Major Sedg- 
wick; agreed to put up with them. Drew our provisions 
and lodged on the floor on my mattress. May I be thankful 
for such comfortable entertainment. Went twice this day 
to visit and pray with a poor soldier of the Pennsylvania 
Regiment, under sentence of death. He appeared much 
affected, but dreadfully ignorant. 

Thursday, 2. All the troops drawn up on the parade 
and the prisoner brought out blindfolded to his execution, 
when the General (Schuyler) stepped forth and in a moving 
and striking speech pardoned the criminal. 



98 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Friday, 22. We attend prayer with the regiment morn- 
ing and evening. Rode five miles to see a sick soldier. I 
have much respect shown me by all the oflScers. 

Saturday, 23. Cannon arrived from New York to go for- 
ward. Walked and visited the sick. A trustee of the Pres- 
byterian Church waited on me with a request to preach to- 
morrow. Consented if soldiers admitted. 

Lord's Day, 24. Prayed in the family, then on parade 
with the regiment. At 10^ went to church. Used great 
plainness; a large assembly and very attentive. 

Monday, 25. After prayers visited four sick soldiers. 
We drink no spirits at all, and I think it best unless I have 
more fatigue. 

Tuesday, 26. Went up to Stillwater. Saw our people at 
Stillwater, who seemed exceedingly rejoiced at my com- 
ing. Returned with Dr. Swift to Albany. 

Thursday, 28. After prayers attended the execution of a 
sentence of court martial upon three poor Pennsylvania 
soldiers, who received thirty-nine lashes each. The whole 
army drawn up; the army marched round the city; a formi- 
dable appearance. 

Friday, 29. Viewed the movements of the Jersey and 
Pennsylvania troops in a large field; visited sick soldiers. 

Lord's Day, 31. Attended again in the Presbyterian 
Church. A. M., preached on Christian Armor; P. M,, ''If 
Thy presence go not up with me, carry me not up hence." 
Great assembly; sundry Jersey and Penn. officers and 
others; Gen. Schuyler's family and aid-de-camp all day. 
Was enabled to speak with great freedom, blessed be God. 
Visited the sick at the barracks; was amazingly shocked to 
see the wickedness of the people of the city and the land 
on the Sabbath. Returned to my quarters excessively 
weary and spent. Col. B. is a kind father, brother and dear 
companion to me. 

Monday, April 1. Slept well and feel greatly strength- 
ened. Attended a funeral of one of Capt. Troop's company ; 
the third that has died in the regiment. 

Wednesday, 3. We received orders to proceed. I came 



HISTORY OF XOEFOLK. 99 

in a bateau to Half-Moon, in company with Col. Buel, 
Marched on foot with the Colonel and under officers to 
Stillwater, 12 miles; not greatly fatigued, 

Friday, 5. Proceeded in a bateau up the river from Still- 
water; arrived at night at Saratoga. 

Saturday, 6. All our people at and near the landing. Col. 
Buel and I set out and came to Fort Edward. 

Lord's Day, 7. Kose early, walked four miles to break- 
fast. We walked moderately, soldiers scattering along; no 
other refreshment for eleven miles than brook water. When 
within four miles of Lake George stopped to view the place 
of the fight in the year 1755, and the manner of Col. Whi- 
ting's retreat. Saw where Col. Williams was killed, old 
Hendrick, etc. At 4 P. M. arrived at Lake George. At eve 
sundry officers and soldiers came up; gave a word of exhor- 
tation, sung and prayed near the water; the poor carpenters 
very attentive and solemn. Fort William Henry is so gone 
that scarcely any traces are left. Fort George is a small 
stone fort, with a convenient brick barrack in the midst, 
containing six rooms for soldiers. The lake is much less 
than I expected, environed with high, craggy mountains; 
a convenient wharf at the end and a large number of fine 
bateaux about it; barracks built for the accommodations of 
several regiments of soldiers. The ice is very rotten and 
we hope will be gone in eight or ten days. Col. >Buel has 
the command here till we proceed down the lake to Ticon- 
deroga. 

Monday, 8. Breakfast with Col. Buel and two gentle- 
men of Montreal, one of whom is just arrived from Eng- 
land. There are about a hundred new and large bateaux 
and many more in building. Walked over to see the ruins 
of Fort William Henry, the French lines, etc. Prayed and 
sung at night in the large new barrack; great numbers 
attended. This day two companies of Pennsylvania troops 
came in and sundry of ours. Numbers are left sick on the 
road; two or three here are very sick. How easy 'tis for 
God to bless or blast our designs. 

Wednesday, 10. The ice on the lake wastes fast. Visited 



100 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Captain Watson's companj, who live in tents by the east 
mountain. Our troops come in thick. 

(Capt. Watson was a Norfolk man, and quite a number 
of Norfolk men were in his company. It is much to be 
regretted that 'rolls incomplete' is true of Capt. Watson's 
company, as also of this, Colonel Burrall's Regiment, in 
this campaign.) 

Thursday, 11. It rained hard all night; high winds this 
morning; the lake opens fast. News today of the taking 
of a large prize by the American fleet which was going to 
the southward; six hundred barrels of powder and two hun- 
dred cannon. New* of Gen. Spencer with five regiments 
coming after us — rejoicing — at night Gen. Schuyler arrived. 

Lord's Day, 14. Preached A. M. from Isa. 27-45; P. M., 
Malachi 3-2. Gen. Thomas and most all the oflBcers of the 
army present, — very attentive. This day Lieut. Gaylord 
died, ten miles from here on his way home; the fourth in 
our regiment. May the living lay it to heart. 

Monday, 15. General court-martial. Capt. Watson to 
be tried, accused of disorder by Esq. Smith of Fort Edward. 
Is acquitted with honor. Gen. Schuyler gave me the otter 
to go in what boat I pleased to Canada. Col. Burrall and 
Dr. Sutton arrived. General orders today that our regi- 
ment be ready to march in the front. 

Friday, 19. We had orders to march; arose very early; 
at ten o'clock embarked in the rear of our regiment; came 
to twelve mile island, and then with amazing fatigue, 
almost discouraged, we broke through the ice by inches. 
The weather cold and inclement, but towards night got 
through the ice to the narrows, and with a fine gale came 
to Sabbath-day point at dark, where we encamped, twenty- 
four miles from Fort George. I lodged in a tent on the 
ground, but had a bed. Feared it would be attended with 
bad consequences, as the ground was so wet and cold, but 
rested comfortably. 

Saturday, 20. Rose early; we breakfasted, met at the 
water, sung and prayed, then set off for the landing at the 
mouth of Lake George. Landed at 11 o'clock P. M.; the 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 101 

army was in motion unloading and lading the carriages for 
Ticonderoga, which is three miles off. I walked with the 
Major over to Ty.; found a room; we moved in, supped and 
slept well. Here are great and surprising works of the 
French still to be seen. A most advantageous point of 
land on which the Fort stands, which seems to be the 
center to command South Bay, Lake Champlain and Lake 
George. A few New York forces stationed here, but oh, 
'tis impossible to describe the profaneness and wickedness 
of some of these men. It would be a dreadful hell to live 
with such creatures forever. 

Lord's Day, 21. It don't feel like Sabbath day, but I 
can't forget it; none seem to know or think anything about 
it. 'Tis terrible to be sick in the army; such miserable 
accommodations. It is enough to kill a man's spirit when 
first taken to go into the hospital. I moved to have a 
lecture at least today, but 'tis discouraging, — no time or 
leisure for anything. Walked to a house where I found a 
woman reading to her husband. It did me good to see 
anybody serious and remembering in any degree the Sab- 
bath. Talked and prayed with them; returned towards 
night; viewed the place of Abercrombie's defeat in 1758. 
Saw many holes where the dead were flung in, and num- 
bers of human bones, — thigh, arms, etc., — above ground. 
Oh, the horrors of war. I never so much longed for the 
day to approach when men shall learn war no more, and 
the lion and lamb lie down together. 

Monday, 22. Spent some time in conversation with Col. 
Shreve, a very valuable man. He with the other officers 
talked together, and he begged me not to engage with 
another regiment, but since I was like to have the care of 
two, to supply them. Col. Buel received orders to com- 
mand at St. John's, and is appointed Aid to the General. 
Kose early, visited the hospitals, prayed with the sick. At- 
tended the funeral of one of Capt. Swift's men; his com- 
pany present; gave a serious exhortation at the grave and 
prayed. 

Wednesday, 24. General orders today for all to embark 
tomorrow morning. 



102 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Thursday, 25. Rose very early, all in the utmost hurry, 
preparing to embark. Hoisted sail at ten o'clock for St. 
Johns; arrived at Crown Point at three o'clock; walked 
round and viewed the fort, barracks, etc.; amazing works. 
Came to Basin Harbor, spread our tents; lodged very com- 
fortably. 

Friday, 26. Rose at daybreak and with the Jersey regi- 
ment proceeded; with a fair gale came to Split Rock; 
passed, with a fine wind, to the Four Brothers; wind right 
ahead and boisterous sea; arrived at four o'clock at Cum- 
berland Head, 55 miles from Crown Point. The lake very 
wide. Looks like Long Island Sound, with islands in it. 

Saturday, 27. Slept well in tent last night; drank tea 
and at five o'clock pushed off. This is a most level, beauti- 
ful country; no mountains; excellent land. Passed along 
the Grand Island, 30 miles in length. At noon arrived at 
Point-au-Fere, the white house; landed half an hour, 
catched a morsel and put off. A fine gale brought us into 
the Narrow Lake, where 'tis not half a mile wide. Came 
past Isle Aux-Noix, where were to be seen ruins of the old 
French fortifications, which mounted a great number of 
cannon. Wind rose from the south, by means of which we 
went with great rapidity. The lake is now a narrow, 
straight river. Arrived at St. Johns at 6 P. M. Thus have 
we come the length of Ghamplain, 135 miles, in three days. 
St. Johns has a garrison of 100 men, under Capt. Walker. 
Supped and lodged well in our markee. The lake here be- 
comes a river with a swift current down to Chamblee; the 
country round very level and good, but the inhabitants in 
general but a little above a state of heathenism. Montreal 
lies 25 miles to the west. Capt. Stevens is gone to join Col. 
Beadle at the Cedars, 40 miles west of Montreal, and 
Col. Buel, with three companies, is to be here and at Cham- 
blee; the rest to proceed, so that we are like to be very 
much broken and scattered, and the prospects at Quebec 
look very dark. Oh, that I may be enabled to trust in God 
and not be afraid; tho' the earth be removed and nations 
die, Jehovah lives and reigns, and blessed be my Rock. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 103 

Lord's Day, 28. Walked out for retirement; had pleasing 
views of the glorious day of universal peace and spread of 
the gospel through this vast extended country, which has 
been for ages the dwelling of Satan and reign of Anti- 
christ. At ten o'clock we went with our pilot down the 
rapids, and 'tis truly astonishing that a bateau can live in 
such places. Arrived safe at Chamblee at one o'clock; 
found Capt. Benedict, who received me with great kind- 
ness. He has been under an arrest by Col. Hazen from the 
11th inst. I hope to know the issue of his trial; live with 
him in a convenient room. This evening Col. Burrall ar- 
rived. At sunset, by request, went and gave a word 
of exhortation and prayed with the Jersey regiment on the 
parade. Officers and soldiers very solemn. Many boats 
arrived today. 

Monday, 29. Jersey regiment set off for Quebec. Cham- 
blee is a beautiful small town, situated round a large bay. 
We are detained for the cannon to be brought from St. 
Thrace. The gundalow has come down the rapids with 
five large ones; the rest come by land. Second battalion of 
Pennsylvanians arrived, to go on tomorrow. Terrible 
storm of wind and rain. The bateaux were much exposed 
and the powder, but the men exerted themselves to their 
utmost and it was secured. Towards morning snowed; 
weather very cold. 

Wednesday, May 1. Remarkably cold for this season of 
the year. Col. Buel gone to Gen. Arnold at Montreal, Un- 
happy disputes between him and Col. Hazen. The cannon 
all come. The commissioners are at Montreal, who lay 
plans of operations. Things look dark; we seem in an 
enemy's country, and if defeated at Quebec we are sur- 
rounded with foes on every side. It is a great consolation 
that the Lord Jehovah reigns and orders all the events of 
war and will take care of his own cause. 

Thursday, 2. Weather more pleasant. Col, Hazen dis- 
agrees with Col. Burrall; warm dispute. He orders Col. 
Burrall to embark directly and leave the powder and can- 
non till further orders. He refuses; sends off an express to 



104 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Arnold at Montreal. Lieut. Col. Allen embarked this morn- 
ing with six companies of his battalion. Col. Buel arrived 
from Montreal, and at eve Gen. Arnold, who orders the 
gundalow to be mounted with cannon, etc. The train, Capf. 
Bigelow, arrived this evening; received a letter from home 
by J. Lawrence. 

Friday, 3. Rose early. Col. Buel received positive in- 
structions from Gen. Arnold, with warm words and threats, 
to proceed. He obeyed, but despatched an express to Gen. 
Schuyler. All embarked at 12 o'clock and with a fine gale. 
Had the most pleasant sail I ever was in, without the least 
need of rowing. Came in Capt. Watson's boat with the 
Major. We passed St. George's, 20 miles from Chamblee, 
at 2^ o'clock, so that we ran at a great rate. The country 
is the most pleasant I ever saw; small houses but close to 
the river each side; perfectly level from the banks, which 
are about six and eight feet from the water. 'Tis grievous 
and affecting to see the superstition. Five miles from St. 
Georges we passed St. Dennis, where is a church and nun- 
nery. Saw the nuns at the door as we passed. Smart wind ; 
we go at the rate of six or seven miles an hour. Stopped 
at Col. Duggan's, who is engaged in the service; gone to 
Montreal. His wife can't speak a word of English, but very- 
friendly and polite; a little son interprets. 

Saturday, 4. At sunrise embarked. We passed the 
mouth of the Sorrell, where is another beautiful town ; then 
entered the Grand Lake. Side wind; very rough. I never 
had so clear an idea of the hazards and fatigues of sailors 
and soldiers as this day. The sea made me very sick; 
vomited till I could vomit no more. Sundry sick on board; 
with great difficulty put away to the leeward into the Bay 
of St. Anthony. Came to the Senior De Jacy, who enter- 
tained us exceeding kindly. Supped on tea; refreshed, hav- 
ing eaten nothing for twenty-four hours. By leave of the 
man of the house I gave a word of exhortation; we sung 
and prayed. 

Lord's Day, 5. As cold last night as it is with us in New 
England in March. At nine o'clock wind died away; set 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 105 

out; met with four boats who lay in the drowned land all 
night. Capt. Parmelee lost his masts. This part of the 
I'iA er is called Wide Lake. You can't see across. We passed 
the mouth of the Great Lake, which is five miles wide, where 
a river comes in from the east. Landed on the south shore 
and waited for other boats to come up. Some passed the 
night in the boats in the drowned land, with great fatigue, 
but no lives lost. Discoursed to the people in our boat on 
the millennium. Took refreshment and sailed down to Trois 
Kivieres, where all put in the barracks. 'Tis a beautiful 
town, about as large as Plymouth; situated on the river. 
Some troops stationed here. Discouraging news from Que- 
bec about small-pox. Our soldiers come back in great 
numbers on our near approach to headquarters. 

Monday, 6. Rose early and embarked, wind ahead. 
Rowed heavily under the banks of the north shore. The 
river in general about four miles wide. Met three or four 
vessels; no news. The north shore is good land, cultivated 
and inhabited all along, but the opposite looks like a deso- 
late wilderness. Vast cakes and bodies of ice. Very cold; 
equal to winter this morning; at noon very calm; passed 
troops every five or six miles, but the river very wide. Ex- 
ercised with sickness; vomiting severely, very weak, Xt 
sunset arrived at Dechambalt, where our orders were to 
stop. Found an intrenchment begun. Went to bed in the 
parsonage house. 

Tuesday, 7. We were alarmed at 2 o'clock this morning 
by two expresses from Quebec, giving account of the arrival 
of the fleet, fifteen sail, who yesterday came along by Que- 
bec. Our poor, feeble, sickly army is obliged to retreat 
with great precipitancy. Great numbers sick with the 
small-pox we had to leave, and some others. The ships 
pursuing up the river, firing at our army on the land and in 
the bateaux. This is the most terrible day I ever saw. 
God of armies, help us. Three ships came near by us, firing 
as they came, and our boats and people in a scattered con- 
dition coming up. Distress and anxiety in every counte- 
nance. The small-pox thick among us from the poor fugi- 



106 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

tives that come up. We are in hourly expectation of the 
ships attacking us, — our boats, provisions, etc. The whole 
conspired to give an idea of distress. At 11 o'clock Gen. 
Thomas came up and immediately a council of war was 
called. Gen. Wooster present and a great number of gentle- 
men. The result is to retreat with the whole army back to 
the river Sorrel (130 miles), as in case of a defeat here 
'twould be absolutely fatal. Saw Rev. Mr. Evans, Mr. 
Spring, etc., brother chaplains, worn out with fatigue. 
Many oflBcers lost all, to the clothes on their backs. Gen. 
Wooster goes by water with the boats. Gen. Thomas 
brings up the rear by land. All the men except enough for 
rowing and the invalids go by land. I am very much weak- 
ened with the disorder that has attended me these four 
days past. Am obliged to go by water. Gen. Wooster is 
as kind to me as a father. We set sail at sunset, the other 
boats to follow; came several leagues; ran on the reefs 
twice, but through mercy no damage. Wind high and 
current strong, but with great difficulty put into the east 
shore. Went up the high banks to a house at 2 o'clock 
and slept two hours. The boatmen sing a very pretty air 
to "Row the boat, row," which ran in my head when half 
asleep, nor could I put it entirely out of mind amid all our 
gloom and terror, with the water up to my knees as I lay 
in the boat. My diflSculty was, one passage I could not get. 

Wednesday, 8. Wind ahead, but a mercy to the army, 
as the ships can't proceed. We rowed against wind and 
strong current about ten miles and put up in a convenient 
house at 2 o'clock; dined and tried to rest. Wind so strong 
concluded to tarry the night ; slept, but often waktd by the 
sentinels. 

Thursday, 9. Rose early, breakfasted and set otf at seven 
o'clock. Calm, but sailing slow against the current; sev- 
eral boats in sight and men on shore. Game to Trois Rivi- 
eres at dark in a very thick fog. Supped and lodged; i. e., 
one nap of three hours. Great are the fatigues of our 
march. 

Friday, 10. Very calm weather, and 'tis a great mercy, 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 107 

as the ships can by no means move on and the army may. 
We took a dish of tea at sunrise and proceeded up towards 
the great lake, called St. Peter's lake. Heard of the army 
being attacked by land, but nothing remarkable. The peo- 
ple here more insolent, but we have no fears from them as 
yet. Wind ahead; obliged to put into the river east side of 
St. Anthony's Bay. Capt. Goforth came up on express to 
New York. Feel poorly and much worn; distressed for the 
army. Surely our cause is good and we shall prosper. 

Saturday, 11. Before sunrise entered St. Peter's lake; 
perfect calm; rowed within five miles of west end, when a 
hard gale came ahead and we were in a terrible situation, 
but through mercy near night got through into a narrow 
river which leads to Sorrel. Came up with my boy and 
chest, which arrived safe before me. Numbers arriving, 
many with smallpox; anxious about my boy, who has un- 
doubtedly taken it in the boat. 

Lord's Day, 12. Rowed up to Sorrel ; landed at 9 o'clock. 
Found two Boston regiments arrived, also sundry others. 
Found Mr. Barnum, Mr. Breck, Mr. McCawlay, Mr. Spring 
and Mr. Evans (Chaplains), but no public exercise today, 
as troops are in such confusion. Our days are days of 
darkness. No news from Gen. Thomas. Feel very gloomy 
today on every account; low in spirits by reason of my dis- 
order which has brought me down, which, with the fatigues 
and fearful forebodings, has been almost too much. Still 
I believe our cause is just and we shall prosper. Attended 
prayers with Mr. Barnum in Col. Gratton's regiment. Had 
conversations in the evening with the chaplains about the 
accomplishment of the promises; differ a little about the 
millennium. 

Monday, 13. Our regiments almost all back. Gen. Ar- 
nold is come from Montreal. They are erecting the old bat- 
tery to command the river. A strange discouragement 
seems to prevail in the army among the officers. There is 
jealousy and want of confidence; we are in a most critical 
situation. The smallpox strikes terror into our troops. 

Wednesday, 15. Rose early, breakfasted and set off; high 



108 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

wind ahead; proceeded to St. Dennis; came to St. Charles. 
Arrived at Chamblee near night, all in confusion. Know 
not who are friends or who are enemies; our army in a most 
sad state; no provisions nor supplies; only men nor half 
enough of them. Gen. Wooster is determined to go to Mon- 
treal before leaving the country. 

Friday, 17. Advised with Gen. Wooster, who gave me 
a permit, to go to New England when I please. Talked 
with the Doctor about it; am at a loss; may I be directed to 
what is best. On the whole conclude 'tis really my duty to 
go. Found Mr. Eli Pettibone, who is in Col. Warner's regi- 
ment. Concluded to go with him, as it is next to impossi- 
ble to get an opportunity this month. Talked freely with 
Stephen (my boy), who is willing to return and join the 
regiment. Col. Warner consents that I go with his people, 
though very much crowded. 

Saturday, 18. Was called on in the morning to go soon; 
set off for St. Johns. Got soldier to carry my pack; walked, 
but very feeble. Stephen came with me two or three miles; 
left him somewhat cheerful. He desired me to give his duty 
to his parents and tell them he has no desire to return. I 
walked on moderately to St. Johns, a great part of the way 
alone. Stephen brought me a small bit of bread, which at 
3 o'clock I ate, being very faint. If ever I received a meal 
with a grateful heart it was that. Arrived at St. Johns at 
sunset. All out of provisions here and at Chamblee and 
elsewhere. While struck with terror and apprehension, 
five boats appeared in sight with a great number of barrels 
of pork. In the mount God appears. 

Lord's Day, 19. News from the Cedars that there is an 
attack: four hundred regulars, about two hundred Indians 
and Canadians. Col. Beadle, Patterson, etc., opposed them; 
know not the event. My diarrhoea returned with great vio- 
lence. Assembled on the beach, sung and prayed, and weak 
as I was gave a word of exhortation, and the people seemed 
solemn. An express arrived from Montreal to take back 
three of our boats with provisions. Capt. Mayhew showed 
me much kindness. Begged a mouthful of fresh meat 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 109 

which was cooked, and it seemed to strengthen me. A de- 
tachment of Gen. Sullivan's came in with six boats and 100 
barrels of pork. At 4 o'clock we set off. Came with Capt. 
Pearson of Stockbridge, Rev. Mr. Ripley and Rev. Mr. Dean 
as far as Isle Aux-Noix at dark. Very weak; took some 
brandy toddy with a bit of sea bread and lay down by the 
side of a barn and slept three hours. 

Monday, 20. Was called at 3 o'clock, and at 4 we set off. 
My disorder continued; very weak; committed myself to 
God. We rowed on to Point-au-Fere. Got a breakfast of 
tea with a little milk, which seemed to revive me, but after- 
wards was exercised with great pain. Proceeded, wind 
ahead; lodged under some bushes; poor accommodations, 
but such as soldiers often have. Very windy and rained 
some, but I slept on the ground. 

Tuesday, 21. At the dawn of day we all rallied, prepared 
to set out before sunrise. Called at Cumberland Head; lake 
very rough; we went at a prodigious rate; run forty miles 
in six hours. Put up at Gilliland's Creek; most kindly re- 
ceived and entertained by that hospitable man. He came 
from New York; has 1,450 acres of land and owns Cumber- 
land Head. We had some excellent spruce beer, which 
greatly revived me. My disorder seemed to abate. Supped 
agreeably on tea and fish; lay in a good bed; slept well. 

Wednesday, 22. Rose early; took a dish of tea and came 
off at seven. Esq. Gilliland accompanied us to the boat 
with all the marks of kindness possible. Wind ahead; we 
rowed under the west shore; the stupid soldiers grumbled 
much about proceeding, though the Capt, Mr. Ripley, Mr. 
Dean and I readily took our turns at rowing. I feel weak 
and find that a little labor seems to outdo me; Taut blessed 
be God, have better health than some days past. At 
Grant's, 24 miles from Crown Point. Supped on some milk; 
sung and prayed, and went to rest. 

Thursday, 23. Went on board at sunrise; met a large 
number of boats; Gen. Silliman's brigade. Put off to Crown 
Point, where w^e arrived at noon. Came to Ticonderoga at 
G o'clock. The instant we landed Capt. Bronson and Capt. 



110 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Hopkins were setting off for Skenesborough; gave me an 
invitation to embark with them. Came ten miles up South 
Bay and encamped. Lay down, the heavens our shelter, 
and slept. 

Friday, 24. At 3 o'clock set off; very chilly and cold. 
Bay is hemmed in with mountains and rocks. At noon we 
arrived at Skenesborough. Got a soldier to carry my pack; 
walked a mile; was all in a tremor. Was not sensible of 
my weakness. Think I know in some degree now what 
hardship is. Tarried all night. Oh, the distracted state of 
this poor, unhappy country! It is a comfort that the Lord 
reigns. 

Saturday, 25. Rose at daylight; took a dish of tea and 
set out. Gay horse worried me; terrible road, hideous 
country. Rode 15 miles to Pollet. Dined at one Allen's, 
who moved from Woodbury. Found his wife to be Sarah 
Parmelee, — a real Christian. She really revived my heart 
by pious conversation. Came to Rupert, to Capt. Smith's, 
who lives cleverly; was most kindly received. 

Lord's Day, 26. People gathered ; many came six or seven 
miles. Dare not preach, so feeble and weak. Great desire 
among the people to hear the Gospel. P. M., preached in 
the barn to a great number of people, who were very at- 
tentive. My strength was spent before I finished my ser- 
mon. 

Monday, 27. Am so thin that people who have seen me 
before scarce know me. Went on to Bennington. Urged 
that I preach a lecture there, but dare not engage. 

Tuesday, 28. Came to Dorset, then to Manchester and 
to Sunderland; came to Arlington, then to Shaftbury and 
proceeded to Bennington. Lodged at Mr. Dewey's. He is 
truly a charming man. 

Wednesday, 29. Rode with Mr. Dewey. Rode to Mr. 
Mills'. He concluded to let me have a horse to Lanesbor- 
ough and a little boy to bring it back. News of the secret 
confederacy of tories and the discovery of their plot. Peo- 
ple this way are much in fear on account of internal ene- 
mies. What will become of this unhappy country Con- 
soling thought; the Lord, He is our King. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. Ill 

Thursday, 30. Hired a boy, who went on foot, but kept 
pace with me. Came to Williamstown, then to Lanesbor- 
ough at night; cordially received by my dear friend and 
classmate, Mr. Collins. 

Saturday, June 1. Heard a rumor of Col. Beadle having 
had a battle, with the loss of a hundred men and driving 
the enemy. Fear I have broken my constitution in the cam- 
paign. Concluded to attempt to deliver a discourse tomor- 
row. 

Lord's Day, 2. P. M., preached with considerable free- 
dom. Excessively tired. 

Monday, 3. Set off with Mr. Collins for Rev. Mr. Mun- 
son's, Lenox; then to Rev. Mr. West's, Stockbridge. 

Tuesday, 4. Rode in company with Mr. West and Col- 
lins to Mr. Farrand's. Attended the Association. 

Wednesday, 5. Rode home, and found my dear family 
well, after having experienced and seen the most abundant 
displays of Divine goodness and mercy. O, for true grati- 
tude!" 

Mr. Robbins remained at home and recovered his health 
sufficiently so that he felt able to go again and join his regi- 
ment, in whose welfare his interest and concern never 
abated. On Tuesday, July 2, having been at home four 
weeks he, ''Took leave again of dear friends at home to 
join the regiment; came to Sheffield, Mr. Camp with me; 
Wednes., set off for Albany; came to Miller's, 12 miles 
short. Thurs., came into Albany. Friday, left Albany 
and proceeded to Stillwater. Saturday, proceeded to Sara- 
toga, then to Fort Edward. Lord's Day, 7. Arrived safe 
at Lake George at ten o'clock; found Col. Buell glad to see 
me; visited the smallpox hospital; prayed; dreadful suffer- 
ing. At five o'clock Mr. Camp set off for home. At six 
o'clock preached; attentive assembly. Monday, rose at 4 
o'clock to cross the lake with the express. Stopped at the 
narrows; proceeded to Sabath-day point; arrived at sunset. 

Tuesday, 9. Walked over to Ticonderoga ; went on board 
with Col. Warner, and with a fine gale run down to the 
Point in 3 hours. Found our regiment, who were exceed- 



112 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

ingly rejoiced to see me,— all, officers and soldiers. The 
camp in a most sickly state; ten or twelve in some instances 
have been buried in one day, but at present the sickness 
abates through mercy. At evening met; had a most solemn 
and affectionate season of prayer and exhortation. Slept 
in Gapt. Watson's marque. 

Wednesday, 10. Attended prayers and sung; saw all our 
people; many poorly, besides the great numbers gone to 
Lake George. The camp is in a most pitiful situation; a 
great many sick. Went with Mr. Avery to the hospitals, 
and never was such a picture of wretchedness; men not 
alive and men breathing their last. Slept on the ground. 

Thursday, 11. Rainy all day. Visited a number of offi- 
cers. All look down and gloomy. We want good general- 
ship. 

Friday, 12. Stephen taken unwell. Attend prayers 
night and morning, and generally sing. Visited the sick in 
Gol. Reed's regiment near us, also the worst cases reported 
in the smallpox room. 

Saturday, 13. Visited the hospitals and other sick. Slept 
in the tent on ground very well. 

Lord's Day, 14. Many sick with camp-distemper. 
Preached in the Fort. Two chaplains present and numbers 
from other regiments. Second sermon at 4 o'clock; vast 
concourse of people. The General and great numbers of 
the principal officers attended. Preached from Isaiah 6 — 
7th and 8th verses. Spoke with freedom; drank tea with 

the General afterward; complimented by , but may I 

be more concerned to please God and less to please men. 
News from New York very good. 

Tuesday, 16. At ten embarked for Ticonderoga; head 
wind; arrived at sunset. Lodged in the fort. 

W^ednesday, 17. Troubled with constant pains in my 
stomach. By advice conclude to go to Lake George to visit 
the sick and the rest of our regiment, which is nearly one- 
half. Went with Lieut. Doty to the landing. Lodged on 
some boards on the wharf. Thursday, 18, rained all day. 
Friday, 19, waited all day for boats. 



HISTORY OF XORFOLK. 113 

Saturday, 20. At nine o'clock set out for Lake George; 
rowed to Sabbath-day point; then with a fair wind came 
at a great rate up to Lake George by six o'clock. Saw Mr. 
Curtiss, and never a man so altered. I wish he may get 
home; fear he will not get well, if he does not. The Lord 
directs. Visited one hospital and prayed with the regi- 
ment at sunset. Capt. Holt in a sad low state. 

Lord's Day, 21. Rose early and visited the west hospi- 
tal so far as I could stand it, but not the rest until night. 
Never was such a portrait of human misery as in these hos- 
pitals. Prayed several times. Preached over the other 
side, A. M., on 'Be ye therefore sober and watch unto 
prayer.' At 4 o'clock preached this side to a great many 
people. At evening preached again. Visited the hospitals, 
prayed with the sick; got greatly fatigued. 

Monday, 22. Applied myself to my duties; indeed it is too 
much, but I am carried along. Visited the long hospital 
this side. P. M., Mr. Spring came and helped me visit the 
others at night. Called on Col. Reed (who is made Briga 
dier), and on his request agreed to serve his regiment with 
ours as chaplain. 

Tuesday, 23. Sent for early to visit Capt. Mann's son; 
he is near his end. Afterwards advised with the surgeon 
and agrees to take a vomit directly; tartar emetic; and 
never was poor mortal more terribly handled, yet not quite 
come to spasms. Evidently it was very necessary; officers 
Tery kind to me. News of French fleet of fifty sail on the 
coast in conseqeuence of Mr. Dean pledging the public 
faith of the Continent that Independence be declared. 

Wednesday, 24. Sent for early to visit Col. Reed; fear 
he wont live. Prayed four times this morning with the 
sick. Deaths have been about five a day for some days 
past. A great mortality, but not so frequent as has been. 
Visited Col. Reed again at evening and prayed with him. 
At nine o'clock at night sent for with Mr. Spring to visit 
the Prussian General, De Woloke, who was pronounced by 
the chief doctor to be a dying man. A very singular trial 
I had. He most earnestly desired that I administer the 



114 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

sacrament to him; that he had made his peace with God 
and nothing remained but to do his last command. I felt 
that he was deluded. Endeavored to show him that God 
did not require it; that if he truly believed on the Lord 
Jesus Christ he would be accepted. He was so weak he 
could not converse much. I prayed with him and Mr. 
Spring said the Lord's prayer at his desire, and we left 
him. Lieut. Riley grows worse, 

Thursday, 25. I want a constitution of brass to tarry 
here and do duty as seems necessary. Very hot, faint 
weather. Visited Col. Reed, then some of the other sick, 
but utterly unable to go through the hospital. Conversed 
with Dr. Potts, who informed me I must instantly take 
ipecac. The bile was collecting so fast it would throw me 
into the inflammatory camp disorder. I took a solution of 
manna, cream of tartar, Senna and anise seed. Had a sick 
day. 

Saturday, 27. Concluded by advice of Dr. Lynn, Col. 
Buel and Mr. Spring to try to get down a little way into 
the country. Went in a wagon with Dr. Beebe and Dr. 
Waterman. Arrived at Fort Edward toward night. 

Lord's Day, 28. Sick and had high fever. Was brought 
in a wagon to Saratoga to Mr. Petit's. 

Monday, 29. Was brought in a carriage to Stillwater, 
where Dr. Merwin attended me, who says my disorder is 
of the dissolvent, putrid kind. He talked encouragingly, 
but says no prospect of my being able to return to the 
camp and to my duties under three or four weeks; and as 
I could ride a little, recommended me to try to get home. 
I am peculiarly unfitted to do the duties of a chaplain on 
account of my bilious constitution. I envy brother Avery 
his health. He will go through the hospital when pesti- 
ferous as disease and death can make it with a face as 
smooth as a baby's and afterward an appetite as healthy 
as a woodchopper. I cannot; after inhaling such diseased 
breath am sick and faint. Besides, their sorrows take hold 
of me. I would not shrink from the work. Our war is a 
righteous war. Our men are called to defend the country. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 115 

Whole congregations turn out, and the ministers of the 
gospel should go and encourage them when doing duty; 
attend and pray for and with them when sick, and bury 
them when they die. I hope to return to my work." 

Mr. Robbing continued his journey homeward. 

"Wednesday, 31. Rode in a chair to Albany; then to 
Greenbush. Friday, reached Sheffield. Saturday, August 
3. — Home, and have I trust a grateful sense of the Divine 
goodness." 

After about two weeks at home, Mr. Robbins felt suffi- 
ciently improved in health to return to his arduous duties 
as chaplain in the army, and we will follow him briefly: 

"Monday, August 19. Took leave of friends at home to 
join the regiment. Came in company with Capt. Watson, 
both of us feeble soldiers. 

Tuesday, 20. Came to Kinderhook. Ensign Cowles 
passed us on another road. We heard of the death of Mr. 
Curtiss. 21st. Met Major Curtiss, who is very ill. Ar- 
rived in Albany. 22nd. Proceeded to Saratoga. 23rd. 
Came on to Fort Edward. Called at Selah's, where was 
poor Heman Watson, in a distressed condition. Hardly 
think he will be able to get any farther. Left Capt. Wat- 
son. Rode with Doctor Potts to Lake George. He told 
me it was at the risk of my life to go into the hospitals, but 
if the physician goes why not a minister of the great physi- 
cian? Mr. Avery is sick. 

Saturday. 24. Went to look for my horse, but he was 
taken without leave. 

Lord's Day, 25. Tried to get a boat to pass the lake. 
Read, sang and prayed with the York forces. 

Monday, 26. Very stormy. Visited a poor dying man 
in the bake house. Wednesday, 28. Visited and prayed 
with Gen. Reed. He is very low. 

Thursday. 29. Made preparations to go to Ticonderoga. 
Am obliged to go in a heavily loaded boat. Set off at four 
o'clock; rowed hard ten miles; put in at Darkwest. The 
savages are prowling about there. Capt. Wright pitched 
his tent in a thick wood on very wet ground. Very un- 



116 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

comfortable in the tents, for it rained a great part of the 
night. Kindled a fire and sat by it. This is soldier-like; 
the romance is something, but a poor balance for the fa- 
tigue and self-denial; but I do not mind it, if I can keep 
sound in body and clear in voice. 

Friday, 30. Off early; was in hopes to reach Ticon- 
deroga, but fell short seven miles. Some lodged on land, 
some in the boat. 

Saturday, 31. Walked to Ticonderoga; moved over to 
our brigade at Mount Independence. Found our poor regi- 
ment like the rest of the brigade, in a down, sickly state. 
Was cordially received. Visited B. Seward; prayed with 
him; fear he will die. 

Lord's Day, September 1. Visited the sick round about 
in tents. Preached to the brigade; a serious and attentive 
audience. 

Monday, 2. Visited the rounds; w^ould try to impart 
consolation and hope, but am often tried; can only direct 
them to the Redeemer of men. They generally listen to 
prayer. Went over to Ticonderoga; viewed the encamp- 
ments of the Pennsylvanians. Politely received by Col. 
De Haas. Returned at night. 

Tuesday, 3. Walked through the whole encampment. 
The woods swarm with men. Lieut. Converse and Mr. 
Beach taken sick. There is not one field officer in our bri- 
gade, except Major Sedgwick, who is not sick. News of 
the death of Mr. Barnum of Pittsfield. 

Wednesday, 4. Cols. Porter and Gratton quite low. At 
night prayed and sang with the brigade. This exercise is 
often held on the parade ground, when the music march up 
and the drummers lay their drums in a very neat style in 
two rows, one above the other. 

Thursday, 5. This day I am thirty-six years old. Thus 
kindly preserved, but alas, how useless! 

Friday, 6. Enjoy through great mercy good health in 
the midst of sickness and death all around me. Col. Swift's 
regiment came up. Saw Lieut. Watson. News of a terri- 
ble fight of our fleet down the lake. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 117 

Saturday, 7. General orders this morniug for every oflfl- 
eer and soldier throughout the army that is well to turn 
out on fatigue and prepare for the enemy. 

Lord's Day, 8. Our regiment in a most miserable con- 
dition, I could wish they were all dismissed. Visited this 
day tent by tent, and could not pass one single tent among 
the soldiers wherein there were not one or more sick. At 
night attended the funeral of B. Seward. There is some- 
thing more than ordinarily solemn and touching in our 
funerals, especially an oflScer's; swords and arms inverted; 
others with their arms folded across their breast, stepping 
slowly to the beat of muffled drum. I endeavor to say 
something that will lead to meditation, but only a word. 

Monday, 9. Spent considerable part of the day with Col. 
Burrall, who is really very ill. Visited and prayed with 
the sick in their tents. 

Tuesday, 10. Capt. Burrall has come; concludes to take 
the old Col. home if he can. We all advise it, as his life 
is in danger here. The groans of the distressed in the camp 
are really affecting. Capt. Troop very poorly; so is Capt. 
Austin; only Capt. Watson left. Not fifty men really fit 
for duty. The Major is disheartened in trying to turn out 
men according to the requisition made. 

Wednesday, 11. The Major and I escorted the Colonel 
down to the water side. He is truly weak and it is doubt- 
ful whether he gets home. 

Friday, 13. My heart is grieved as I visit the poor sol- 
diers. Such distress and miserable accommodations. One 
very sick youth from Mass. asked me to save him if pos- 
sible. Says, 'I cannot die; do pray for me. Will you not 
send for my mother? If she were here to nurse me I could 
get well. She was opposed to my enlisting; I am now very 
sorry; do let her know I am sorry.' 

Saturday, 14. After all our attempts to get the sick 
away, yet could not obtain consent. Several in our regi- 
ment must die, I think. In Bond's regiment, by returns 
today, 197 sick, besides those absent, and 40 only that are 
well. Went with the Doctor from tent to tent through 



118 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

the whole regiment; examined all, and the Major and Doc- 
tor certified that sixteen of the worst cases could be moved 
to Fort George, and Captain Austin obtained of the Gen- 
eral, permission. 

Lord's Day, 15. At one o'clock our poor sick went off; 
16 of them for Fort George. I fear sundry of them will 
never reach home. Went with Mr. Breck to visit Rev. Mr. 
Emerson, who is very low. 

Wednesday, 18. Saw four deserters of Col. Porter's regi- 
ment flogged. Heard that Col. Burrall was not likely to 
get home. It appears that Col. Gratton must die. Visited 
Col. Maxwell, a man of handsome manners, as are most of 
the officers. 

Friday, 20. Greater number at prayers than ever, and 
a very perceptible gain in health. 

Saturday, 21. General orders appear today for tomor- 
row, that all labor, etc., shall cease. Divine service to be 
attended at eleven o'clock in every brigade. I am sorry 
the appointment is on the Sabbath, but it is a southern 
custom. 

Lord's Day, 22. Attended divine service on the parade 
ground; a convenient place built up for me; the whole bri- 
gade under arms attended, and great numbers of other 
officers and spectators. I preached from Daniel 5 — 23, with 
great freedom and plainness. A very attentive audience. 
The officers and soldiers observed the Sabbath in such a 
manner that it seemed more like a Sabbath day than any 
I have seen in the army. 

Tuesday, 24. Am threatened with the camp distemper, 
which is a dreadful disease here. Mr. Hitchcock invites 
me to preach on the other side on the Sabbath to Gen. 
Briket's brigade. News not so good from New York as 
heard: the city evacuated. 

Lord's Day, 29. Was roused last night by a violent 
shower. The roof leaked, and it poured in upon our bed. 
Some company at home very disagreeable for the Sabbath. 
No exercises nor evening prayers. 

Monday, 30. Visited the sick. Prayed at night with 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 119 

the brigade. Sometimes Tibbals, who strikes the drum ad- 
mirably, gives it a touch at the right time when we are 
singing. It is beautiful harmony. A soft fife is also an 
addition. 

Tuesday, October 1. Thus one month rolls on after an- 
other. It was expected the enemy would most certainly 
come by this time, and now they are looked for in one 
fortnight more, after which there will be no probability 
of their coming. 

Wednesday, 2. Have something of the camp distemper, 
but not the distressing pains many have. Kept my bed. 
Spikenard, I believe, is of special service in this disorder. 

Lord's Day, 6. Feel much better today. Mr. Breck 
preached A. M. Mr. Tennent P. M. I concluded with 
prayer. 

Wednesday, 9. A number of sick soldiers went over the 
lake. Samuel Mills very poorly. 

Lord's Day, 18. Agreed to preach, tho' feeble. Attended 
at eleven o'clock, but the attention of the people taken 
up by a smart cannonading from the fleets which began in 
the morning. At noon express arrived with accounts of 
the battle on Friday down the Lake. All the camp 
alarmed. Towards night the whole army drawn up to the 
lines to take the alarm posts. Five vessels that were left 
of the fleet came in in a shattered condition. The rest 
are destroyed. This evening Col. Buel came. 

Monday, 14, No sleep last night. The whole camp in 
arms at 4 o'clock this morning, but no approach of the 
enemy. 

Tuesday, 15. General Arnold got in, and his troops 
that escaped in the woods. Gen. Waterbury with all the 
prisoners were sent down from Crown Point and are here 
ordered home. I walked over to headquarters; visited the 
wounded, and a horrible spectacle they were. Desired by 
the General to go to Fort George with the sick and 
wounded of the Fleet. I agreed to go, but it was with re- 
luctance. The scout discovered a number of the enemy 
advancing towards this post; Indians and Canadians lurk- 
ing about. 



120 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Wednesday, 16. At three o'clock set out for Fort 
George; rowed on; very dark; came by eastern shore; very 
still because of the enemy; passed a very uncomfortable 
night; no sleep; noisy swearing sailors. While I was at 
the bow discovering the islands and Capt. Goforth in the 
stern, the rudder band broke. We lay at the mercy of the 
waves, but floated near an island. Came near dashing to 
pieces several times on the rocks. Tried to land in vain, 
but at last by a gracious Providence got in the lee side 
and all lay in the boat until day. It rained hard; my heart 
grieved for the sick soldiers on board. In the morning we 
got into Lake George, very wet and benumbed with the 
cold. Could I once have thought that I could endure and 
undergo and safely go through such fatigue! Great have 
been the signal mercies of God. 

Thursday, 17. Breakfasted at Jones'; afterwards shifted 
all my clothes; lay down and took a nap in my blanket. 
At 2 o'clock, P. M., visited all the hospitals; saw the 
wounded soldiers dressed by the surgeon. Prayed in four 
or five wards. 

Saturday, 19. Feel tolerably well; rode down to Fort 
Edward; found a Mrs. Campbell of New York. She was 
rejoiced to tears to hear Christian conversation. Returned 
to camp. 

Lord's Day, 20. Felt dizzy and weak. Rode to the hos- 
pital, but not without some fear of the skulking savages. 
Visited the general hospital in almost every ward. 
Preached and exhorted the sick and prayed with them. 

Tuesday, 22. Rode to the lake; visited every ward 
through the whole hospital. Two or three just breathing 
their last. Prayed with them and tried to impress the 
living. The frequency of death often hardens. 

Wednesday, 23. Rode to Stillwater with Col. Syms. 
Have not the least encouragement to do anything more. 
Worn down and low spirited; met militia going up. 

Thursday, 24. Distress about here in fear of the tories. 
Called on General Tenbroeck at Fort Edward with a mes- 
sage from Gen. Schuyler. News of the death of one and 
captivity of two men at Ticonderoga landing. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 121 

Saturday, 26. Rode down to the lake; found Doctor Stod- 
dard with the sick just arrived. Helped the sick about dis- 
charge. Visited the hospital; two have died with their 
wounds. Their suffering had been extreme; became easy 
before they died; had their reason. The rest, I hope, may 
live. Many more distressed creatures came over near 
night. They have a good surgeon, but physicians of no 
value to these mangled men. 

Lord's Day, 27. Militia proceed on in great numbers to 
the lake. Came in a boat to Fort Miller, then in a wagon 
to McNeal's. Kinderhook regiment came up very noisy. 

Monday, 28. Came to Gen. Schuyler's; waited on the Gen- 
eral; told him I was broken down; had in a measure lost my 
voice, etc. He was very loth to give me a discharge, but 
very ready to give me a furlough. Came to Bryant. An 
express passed us this evening with good news from the 
south. 

Tuesday, 29. Came to Albany; did business and pro- 
ceeded towards home. 

Wednesday, 30. Rode on horseback; put up. 

Thursday, 31. Arrived at night at my own home, after 
near three months' absence, in fatigue, perils and dangers, 
having experienced the most distinguishing marks of Di- 
vince mercy and favor. Now, O for a heart full of grati- 
tude and praise and resolution to live thankful, humble 
and faithful, being laid under the greatest obligations 
thereto." 



122 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 



IX. 

"A HALF-CENTURY SERMON, DELIVERED AT NORFOLK OCTOBER 28, 
1811 — FIFTY YEARS FROM THE ORDINATION OF THE AUTHOR TO 
THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY IN THAT PLACE — BY AMMI R. 
ROBBINS." 

This sermon, containing so much that is of historical in- 
terest, and as a specimen of Mr. Bobbins' sermons, is here- 
with given. 

A SERMON — Acts 26: 22, 23. 

"Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto 
this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none 
other things than those which the prophets and Moses 
did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that 
he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and 
should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles." 

"Time, which is measured by years and months and days, 
swiftly, and by us almost imperceptibly, passes along, and 
will soon bring us to that state of existence where time will 
be swallowed up in eternity; where a thousand years will 
be as one day and one day as a thousand years. Oh, how 
short is human life! how soon do we run through it! how 
quickly do we pass from childhood to old age! To those 
few whose lives are protracted to that period, a retrospec- 
tive view of the various scenes and changes which have 
been passed, is as emphatically represented by Dr. Watts, 
'Just like a dream when man awakes.' 

This day, never to be forgotten by me, this anniversary 
completes fifty years since I was solemnly ordained to the 
pastoral charge of the infant church and people in this 
town. The several parts of the solemnity were performed 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 123 

in the following manner: The Rev. Mr. Lee of Salisbury 
made the introductory prayer. Rev. Mr. Robbins of Bran- 
ford, my honored father, preached the sermon from 2 Cor. 
5-20. Rev. Dr. Bellamy of Bethlem made the consecration 
prayer and gave the charge. Rev. Mr. Champion of Litch- 
field gave the right hand of fellowship, and the Rev. Mr. 
Roberts of Torrington made the concluding prayer. None 
of these remain. They were not suffered to continue by 
reason of death. They have gone to give account of their 
stewardship. 

Thus was I set apart to the work of the evangelical 
ministry, and to labor in the gospel with the people in 
this town. And 'having obtained help of God I continue 
unto this day.' And, oh, that through grace I were enabled 
in truth to add the following words of the text, 'witnessing 
both to small and great, saying none other things than 
those which the prophets and Moses did say should come; 
That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first 
that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto 
the people, and to the Gentiles.' But alas, I have abundant 
reason to exclaim in the language of the prophet Isaiah, 
'my leanness, my leanness.' Yet through the great good- 
ness of God 'unto me, even to me, is this grace given, that 
I should preach among my fellow sinners the unsearchable 
riches of Christ.' 

But who, where, are those with whom I was placed to 
minister in holy things in this town? Where are the mem- 
bers of the church with whom I communed at the table of 
the Lord in the beginning of my ministry? Alas! they are 
in the eternal world, two only excepted, and but one of 
these is still with us. (Mrs. Dorothy Case, relict of the late 
Mr, Asahel Case.) And of the people who composed my 
audience and joined in public worship, who were heads of 
families, there remain, if I mistake not, only seven persons. 
Of the youths, who were over fifteen years and under 
twenty, six only remain in town. 'Your fathers, where are 
they?' Yet by the providence of God, some hundreds have 
moved in to dwell here, and manv hundreds have been born. 



124 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

It will be expected, it is presumed, on the present oc- 
casion, that an historical sketch of the church and town, 
more especially respecting our ecclesiastical and religious 
concerns, will be given. This will be attempted, after 
which some serious reflections, exhortations and counsel 
will conclude the discourse. 

The inhabitants of this town were incorporated by Act 
of Assembly in the year 1758. In the early times of their 
settlement they set up and endeavored to maintain the 
public worship of God. From scattered individuals a 
church was gathered and formed by the Rev. Daniel Far- 
rand of the adjoining town of Canaan, on the 24th of De- 
cember, 1760. It then consisted of twenty-three members. 
Mr. Farrand was very helpful in their infant state by visit- 
ing and preaching with them, by administering the sacra-' 
ments of baptism and the Lord's supper, and occasionally 
in attending funerals, and kindly visiting them in times of 
affliction. These his benevolent services I have often heard 
them acknowledge with gratitude and thankful remem- 
brance. 

Several candidates for the ministry, such as Messrs. 
Curtiss, Gregory, Wetmore and Ives were successively em- 
ployed by the people to acceptance and profit. At length 
divine Providence directed their application to me. After 
preaching and becoming acquainted with the people a 
number of months, by the almost unanimous call of the 
church and inhabitants of the town, I was ordained to the 
work of the ministry in this place, on the 28th day of Oc- 
tober, 1761. The number of families in the town when I 
came here to reside, which was in June preceding my ordi- 
nation, was a little upwards of fifty. At the time of my 
ordination there were about sixty, there having been some 
accessions from different parts of the state in the course 
of the year. From that time to the year 1799 there was a 
gradual increase of inhabitants, till the number of families 
amounted to about two hundred and ninety. Since that 
time the number has been rather diminished by means of 
great emigrations to the northern and western parts of the 



HISTOEY OF NORFOLK. 125 

United States. Various and instructive have been the dis- 
pensations of divine Providence from our beginning to 
this day. We have experienced seasons of prosperity and 
seasons of adversity. Situated in a hill country, with a 
free air, with pure springs and streams of water, we have 
been blessed with a greater share of health, it is presumed, 
than has generally prevailed in the state. Many, both 
men and women, have lived to a great age; several above 
ninety years and one above an hundred. Nevertheless we 
have experienced the visitations of severe sickness and 
fatal disease. In the year 1777, fifty-six persons of all ages 
from two years old to advanced life, were swept away by 
death. The next succeeding year, thirty-eight were called 
to follow them to the great congregation. 

Besides these a number of husbands and sons died in 
the armies in the service of their country. Weeping and 
lamentation were in almost every dwelling, and the house 
of God on the Sabbath exhibited among old and young 
the badges of sorrow, the ensigns of mourning. As a people 
in our ecclesiastical and religious concerns, we have been 
blessed with uncommon union, with a general attendance 
on public worship, and a solemn regard to divine institu- 
tions. 

There have been very few among us of a different re- 
ligious denomination, and very rarely indeed has there been 
a different meeting for public worship on the Lord's day 
held in the town. The first settlers of this town, like the 
venerable fathers who commenced the settlement of our 
State, were men who feared God; who sought as a pri- 
mary object, even in an uncultivated wilderness, the en- 
joyment of the blessed privileges of the gospel of Christ. 
'When they were but a few men in number, yea, very few 
and strangers in it,' by their exertions, by their example, 
by their prayers, they laid the foundation of those religious 
privileges and that harmony which have been so long en- 
joyed. The people generally have been in the habit, and 
many I trust from a sense of duty, of resorting to the house 
of God on his holy day. Hence it has appeared that our 



126 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

house of public worship for many years past, although 
thought to be sufficiently large when erected to contain all 
the inhabitants that should dwell here at any one time, is 
often so crowded as to be very uncomfortable, especially 
in the milder seasons of the year. The number of the mem- 
bers of the church when it was gathered as before men- 
tioned was twenty-three. 

From the first formation to the settlement of the pas 
tor fifteen members were added, the most of them from 
other churches, making the number at that time thirty- 
eight. From that period to the present time, the lapse of 
half a century, there have been added to our number five 
hundred and eleven members, making in the whole five 
hundred and forty-nine. The number of baptisms, includ- 
ing sundry adults, amounts to twelve hundred and seventy- 
seven. 

The ordinance of baptism has been administered to 
those only who were in full communion with the church. 
The number of burials in the town is seven hundred and 
sixty. Of these the greater part have been infants and 
small children. The average number is a little over fifteen 
in a year. The number of marriages which I have per- 
formed is two hundred and seventy-six. Many besides have 
been joined in wedlock by the civil authority. The first 
church meeting was held November 19th, 1761, three 
weeks after the settlement of the pastor. At that meeting 
Mr. Michael Humphreys was chosen to the office of deacon. 
He served in that office alone for about four years, when 
Mr. Abraham Camp was chosen to his assistance. Since 
that time there have been appointed to that office in suc- 
cession, Joseph Mills, Abraham Hall, Jared Butler, Sam- 
uel Mills, David Frisbie and Edward Gaylord. In Sep- 
tember, 1799, the church consisting of nearly three hun- 
dred members, it was judged necessary that there be three 
deacons. From that time to the present three have been 
in office. 

It is the wish of the church ever to have money in their 
treasury, not only for the support of the Lord's table, but 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 127 

also to advance small sums to the poor and necessitous 
of their number, as may be needed. This has been often 
done, and this duty is left, unless it be a considerable sum, 
to the wisdom and discretion of the deacons. The treasury 
is replenished by an annual contribution. 

I have now to observe that it hath pleased the great 
Head of the Church, the glorious King of Zion, blessed be 
his adorable Name, to remember this little branch of his 
visible kingdom with the precious influences of his Holy 
Spirit, by whose power and grace numbers of perishing 
sinners have hopefully been brought into the kingdom of 
the Lord Jesus. There have been some solitary instances 
of awakening from time to time, in which individuals have 
apparently become friends to Christ, and have been added 
to the number of his professing people. Of these there 
have been more or less almost every year. But we have 
witnessed three remarkable seasons, which were verily 
*times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.' The 
first of these was in the year 1767, when there was an un- 
common seriousness and attention to religion generally 
through the town. Many were alarmed and enquired with 
solicitude what they should do to be saved. But alas! it 
was like a vernal shower — pleasant, but of short continu- 
ance. Some, however, were made the happy subjects of 
divince grace as we trust, sufficient to show that the work 
was of God. The number added to the church about that 
time was eight or ten, but several who dated their religious 
exercises at that season made a public profession of religion 
many years after, and united with the church. 

But the years 1783 and 4 and the years 1798 and 9 were 
the distinguished periods for the displays of the power and 
sovereign grace of God, which will be remembered, I trust, 
with thankful praise and holy joy through eternal ages. 
Every recollection of these seasons is a subject of thankful 
joy and of just reproof. Our present coldness and indif- 
ference to divine things is such as we then fondly hoped 
never to see. As a particular account of these glorious 
revivals has been given to the public in the first volume of 



128 HISTOKY OF NORFOLK. 

the Connecticut Evangelical Magazine, published at Hart- 
ford in the year 1801, 1 shall not now enlarge. I would only 
observe that in consequence of the former of these two 
revivals, flfty-tw^o members were added to the church, and 
in the letter about one hundred and sixty. Since that 
period forty-nine have been added to the church, about 
one half of them by letters from other churches. 

It may be observed with truth and justice, that the 
people of this town generally have been industrious and 
of regular habits, and attentive to the ordinary duties of 
life. The education of our youth and children, both in re- 
ligious and literary instruction, has engaged no small por- 
tion of our care. Few towns, I believe, have been more 
assiduous in their endeavors to second the wise exertions 
of the Legislature for the promotion of this most important 
object. The tranquillity and harmony which have pre- 
vailed among us, particularly in our ecclesiastical concerns, 
have been great, and such as to be noticed by many abroad. 
On this account it has never been found necessary to form 
a distinct Ecclesiastical Society. The people have trans- 
acted their society business in the stated town meetings, 
when those few who were of a different denomination did 
not act. They have been careful from year to year to leave 
out those, and such also as were in low circumstances as 
to property, when they estimated the necessary expense 
for the support of the gospel, the expenses for repairing 
the meeting-house, for encouraging singing for public wor- 
ship and other society charges. Thus by a kind and gra- 
cious Providence we have been carried along from the or- 
ganization of this town and church through a space of fifty 
years to this day. 

It is my duty here to observe with humble thankful- 
ness to God, that I have not been taken off from public 
labours by sickness and bodily indisposition, but ten 
months in fifty years. For five months in the year 1773 I 
was unable to perform ministerial duties, when the pulpit 
was supplied mostly by the Rev. Mr. Potter, formerly of 
Enfield, and the Rev. Mr. Newell of Goshen. In the last 



HISTOEY OF NORFOLK. 129 

year, 1810, I was disabled from public service nearly five 
months, in which time the pulpit was supplied for the most 
of the time by the kind labours of my brethren of this As- 
sociation and three of my neighboring brethren in the min- 
istry in the county of Berkshire. 

I was absent from my people nearly a year in 1776, in 
the service of my country, attached to the northern army. 
During my absence the pulpit was supplied partly by neigh- 
boring ministers, and partly by a candidate, Mr. Abraham 
Camp, who was hired for the purpose. I have been absent 
also about eight months in the missionary service in the 
new settlements, when the pulpit was supplied in the same 
manner. 

As to my ministerial labours I may not, I cannot, 1 
dare not boast. Oh, that I had been more laborious, more 
zealous, more faithful! Yet I trust 'I have not shunned to 
declare unto you all the counsel of God,' in important doc- 
trines, duties and precepts of revealed religion, so far as 
I have been enabled to understand them, with careful study 
and prayerful attention. I have preached, including those 
abroad, upwards of six thousand and five hundred ser- 
mons, and on looking at my preaching Bible I find that I 
have preached from passages in all the sacred books, ex- 
cepting the Epistle to Philemon and the second Epistle of 
John. 

My doctrine and manner of preaching, my exhortation 
and teaching at religious conferences and at funerals, your 
fathers and predecessors, and ye yourselves also know. 
My instructing and catechising the children and rising 
generation, which in the former part of my ministry was 
generally performed at the meeting-house, has been at- 
tended latterly, in the respective school districts, twice in 
the year. My visits and administrations to the sick and dy- 
ing, many of you who have been bye-standers, must know. 
And you are my witnesses that I have often wept with 
those that weep. But why do I thus speak? Should it 
serve in any measure as a useful example to my children or 
to any of my younger brethren who may hear these declara- 
tions, let this be my apology. 



130 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

After all, I have abundant reason to acknowledge and 
humbly confess before God, and in the hearing of this nu- 
merous assembly, that I have fallen far, very far short of 
my duty in my ministerial labors, in every branch of my 
work. I have to lament that I have no more regarded and 
practised that divine, that solemn charge to ministers, 'Be 
thou an example of the believers, in word, conversation, in 
charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.' I have abundant rea- 
son to cry out, as before said, 'My leanness, my leanness.' 
So great and numerous have been my sins and deficiencies 
in duty, my criminal omissions and commissions, that were 
it not for the free and sovereign grace of God, through the 
righteousness and atonement of our dear Saviour, I must 
be a castaway. On this boundless grace and mercy I desire 
wholly to rely, and hope for pardon and acceptance through 
Jesus Christ alone. 

APPLICATION. 

And now, my Friends, and to many of you I address a 
more endearing epithet, my children, I request your particu- 
lar attention while I close this discourse by way of exhorta- 
tion, and with some serious counsel and advice. And let it 
be considered as directed particularly to those who are and 
have been the people of my ministerial care and charge. 

In the first place and above everything else, I call on you, 
I warn and charge you, "seek ye first the kingdom of God." 
Regard his glory and the salvation of your immortal souls. 
Be solicitous, be anxious that you become friends to Christ 
by experiencing a real change of heart. Our Lord Jesus, 
who will be your judge, hath told you beforehand, "Except 
a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." 
And his Apostle, guided by his spirit, has declared that 
"without holiness no man shall see the Lord." Let it then 
be your great, your primary concern, to obtain a title, 
through grace, to a glorious inheritance beyond the grave. 

Your fathers, with whom I was conversant in early life, 
the most of them "have gone the way of all the earth," and 
I, your minister, and those of my age, soon must follow. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 131 

You also who are now in the midst of active life, full of 
cares, public and private, must soon be called off from these 
busy scenes, and appear naked spirits before God. And 
you who are in youth, who calculate on many years in this 
world, must follow in quick succession to the grave, and 
your eternal state be fixed, forever fixed, in a world of joy 
or woe. What is this world to which we are so fondly 
attached? With all its wealth it cannot purchase the salva- 
tion of one soul. With all its honors, you may be plunged 
into a 'state of shame and everlasting contempt.' With all 
its pleasures and amusements, you may be left to "weeping 
and wailing and gnashing of teeth." Oh, then, as you re- 
gard your God, your Savior and your own immortal souls, 
let it be your chief concern to repent, to believe on the Lord 
Jesus Christ, and be reconciled to God. 

You, my friends, are my witnesses that I have urged and 
pressed upon you the importance of these truths. Again 
and again I have taught and explained to you the great, 
the essential doctrines of the gospel. I have preached and 
urged gospel precepts and duties. I have endeavored to 
preach morality on a gospel footing, — not as a foundation 
of acceptance with God, but as inseparable from love to 
him, and evidential of faith in the Mediator, and a title to 
eternal life. I have laid before you every motive which the 
powers of my mind could suggest, with the word of God 
for my guide, to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus, and 
a life of holiness and evangelical obedience. And to use 
the solemn words of the holy Apostle, "some believed the 
things which were spoken, and some believed not." 

Solemn thought, serious and commanding the reflection, 
that some of you, yea, I fear many of you, are yet in your 
sins, without hope and without God in the world. And is 
it not to be feared that some of you who are in advanced 
life, to the ninth and eleventh hour, have stood all your 
gospel day idle. 

For Christ's sake, for your own soul's sake, let such be 
alarmed, — hear and obey the gospel invitation before your 
eyes are closed in death. Numbers of you, not only of the 



132 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

aged but those in middle life, have lived in days of the dis- 
play of God's power and grace, when many, we trust, were 
born into the kingdom of Christ, and when some of you 
were awakened and inquired with trembling, ''What shall 
we do?" But have you not fallen asleep, lost sight of your 
dreadful state, and become more hard and stupid than be- 
fore? I again call on you, I entreat, I beseech you, by the 
love, the compassion, the bowels of a crucified Savior, to 
awake and flee from the wrath to come, that you may lay 
hold on the hope, the only hope set before you in the gospel. 

My brethren and friends, before I conclude this discourse 
1 would ask your candid attention to a few words of advice 
and counsel from your aged pastor, who loves and ardently 
wishes your prosperity in your temporal, but more es- 
pecially in your spiritual interests. And this will be re- 
specting your future conduct in regard to your religious 
concerns, and those of your children, when my lips shall be 
closed in death. How soon that may be, or how soon I 
may be taken off from public service, is left with God, with 
whom I desire to leave it. But as this may be a proper 
opportunity, I hope it may not be thought unseasonable, 
even though it should please God to continue me a little 
longer in the work whereunto I have been called. 

In the first place, then, as much as possible labour to be 
at peace among yourselves, and that the uncommon union 
which has subsisted among you may be continued and in- 
creased. And as one mean to this important end let me 
suggest to you the propriety and duty of exerting your- 
selves to provide a more commodious and decent house for 
the worship of God. This house has stood more than half 
a century, and although that is not considered long for such 
buildings, this by its construction is evidently going to 
decay, and in some seasons of the year is very inadequate 
to the accommodation of the numerous assembly who resort 
here for public worship. On this subject I would inform 
you that this house, from the mode of its construction, is 
unusually hard and difficult for a public speaker. Having 
been favored through God's goodness with greater strength 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 133 

of voice than many public speakers, I have been enabled to 
perform the service. But many of my brethren in the min- 
istry who have spoken here have noticed the uncommon 
labor to which the preacher is subjected. Many instances 
have occurred in which ministers have been obliged to 
desist from public labours on account of the failure of their 
voice. 

When I recommend to you the propriety and duty of 
building an house for worship, you cannot suppose I can 
have any personal interest in view, sensible that I shall not 
need any earthly house but a little longer. But will it not 
be for your benefit, — will it not be an important benefit to 
your children? Will not such a measure prove a bond of 
union, a means of continuing this people together in the 
worship and ordinances of the gospel? 

I will not add, only to remind you that pious David met 
the divine approbation when it was in his heart to build a 
house for God. And I would invite your attention to the 
words of the prophet Haggai, ''Is it time for you, O ye, to 
dwell in your ceiled houses and this house lie waste?" 

Secondly. With respect to the call and settlement of a 
minister among you, whether it be before or after my de- 
cease, I pray you listen to my counsel. Your fathers and 
predecessors very early set up public worship, — viewing it 
an object of primary importance in respect to the present 
life and that which is to come. In their infant state, when 
few in number and straitened as to property, they hastened 
to erect this house and settle one who might minister to 
them in holy things, and by the help of a land tax, which 
continued four years, which was granted by the Legisla- 
ture, in which the non-residents, who owned a large portion 
of the land, were included, they were enabled to support 
the gospel, and at length to finish this house. I mention 
these things to you, their children and successors, because 
you cannot be informed from them, most of whose lips are 
closed in death. They thus taught you by their faithful 
example, and many of you were taught by their affectionate 
precepts diligently and constantly to remember the holy 



134 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Sabbath, to attend on the worship and ordinances peculiar 
to that day, "not forsaking the assembling of yourselves 
together, as the manner of some is," alas of many, very 
many, at the present day. Therefore I counsel, I warn you 
not to neglect, but continue to remember the Sabbath; to 
esteem it, to prize it as one of the days of heaven. And I 
entreat you constantly and conscientiously to attend and 
improve the instituted means of grace, and as far as you 
are able, let your children enjoy the same privilege, at least 
such of them as are capable of understanding the nature, 
design and duty of public worship. 

And inasmuch as I have advanced to old age and must 
soon be removed from public service, let me give you my 
parting counsel with respect to the qualifications of a suc- 
cessor in the ministry. Above all other qualifications (and 
many others are indispensable) be particularly cautious 
that you elect a man of apparently real piety ; one who has 
experienced the power of religion, whose heart is warmed 
with love to Jesus Christ and to the souls of men; who 
appears to be cordially attached to the kingdom of Christ 
and to the advancement of its interests among you and 
through the world. See that he be not only of unblemished 
morals and exemplary conversation, but clear and distin- 
guishing in the fundamental truths of the gospel; that he 
be one who preaches and urges the soul-humbling, God- 
exalting doctrines of the cross of Christ. To these truths 
we are all naturally opposed; if we were not our Lord \yould 
not have declared as he did, "Ye must be born again." 
The decrees of God, his absolute sovereignty, his electing 
love, the total depravity of mankind, our entire dependence 
on the free and sovereign mercy of God, the nature and 
necessity of regeneration by the Holy Spirit, justification 
on account of the righteousness and atonement of Christ 
alone, the certain perseverance unto eternal life of all who 
are truly united to the Savior, and the endless punishment 
of the finally impenitent, are doctrines which, though 
clearly taught in the holy scriptures, are by many denied 
and by more opposed. Yet let it be remembered, they are 



HISTORY OF NORFOUi:. 135 

the great means, the powerful engine, in the hands of the 
Holy Spirit, of the pulling down of strongholds, of strip- 
ping the sinner of all his proud and self-righteous feelings, 
of abasing his soul before God, and bringing him to fall 
down at the foot of the cross. See that your minister be 
one who insists on gospel morality and holy conduct, ex- 
emplary in his walk, benevolent and compassionate, patient 
under trials, apt to teach, with a talent to communicate in 
conferences and private religious meetings, and especially 
that he be a man of prayer. But I will not enlarge, for I 
humbly trust that the body of this people will never consent 
to settle a minister of principles and practice essentially 
different from what has now been described. O, my friends, 
it is of the last importance to you and your children that 
you sit under a sound, evangelical, experimental minister 
of Christ, who may by the presence and blessing of the 
divine Savior, go before you and lead you in the narrow 
way which terminates in eternal glory. 

Thirdly. You will suffer a word with respect to the sup- 
port of the minister whom you shall choose. You are told 
that the labourer is worthy of his hire. You will all con- 
clude that one who faithfully labours with you in the gospel 
ought to be comfortably and honourably supported. And 
you will readily expect that it will require more than you 
have been accustomed to afford. When I was settled here 
I was entitled to a considerable portion of landed interest 
reserved for the first minister in the town, by means of 
which, with some patrimony, together with what has been 
granted from year to year by the people, I have been en- 
abled through divine goodness to enjoy a comfortable and 
reputable living But you may have a minister destitute 
in a great measure of the helps which 1 have had. The 
burden, therefore, if it can be called a burden, may be 
greater than you have hitherto experienced. But you are 
sensible, and many of you have remarked that your ecclesi- 
astical expenses have been very light, and they have been 
defrayed with the utmost cheerfulness. And here I would 
remark that in the whole course of my ministry there has 



136 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

been only two cases of distraint for ministerial taxes that 
have come to my knowledge. In these instances the per- 
sons had turned to different denominations after their tax 
was due. But should the expense be somewhat greater 
than it has been, I earnestly hope you will not on that 
account divide and scatter, but strive for the continuance 
of your union and peace. I need not add, expecting that 
you will not see your minister in penurious circumstances, 
so as to embarrass and perplex him, obstruct his usefulness 
and bring trouble on you. 

Fourthly. Let me on this occasion urge your attention 
to the duty of family religion and government. You cannot 
be too sensible of their importance for your own comfort, 
and of their incalculable benefit to your children, for the 
present and future life. By a little observation and reflec- 
tion we see, we realize the efiiciency of that divine direction 
and promise, "Train up a child in the way he should go, 
and when he is old he will not depart from it." 

Would you wish your children to be respectable and 
useful in the world, especially that they may be happy when 
they die, begin to catechise and instruct them when quite 
young, and as they increase in years and knowledge, press 
on them the necessity of real religion. Teach them the 
plain doctrines and duties of the gospel, warn them 
against every vice, and inculcate the duty of attending to 
all the means of grace. Let not parental fondness prevent 
necessary restraints. Kemind them of your duty and of 
their accountability at the awful tribunal of God. And to 
convince them of your solicitude for their best interests, 
let your precepts be enforced by corresponding example 
and prayer. And may God in great mercy accompany his 
blessing, that your dear offspring may be saved in the day 
of the Lord. 

But it is time to conclude this discourse. I have given 
you a brief sketch of the history of this town and church, 
and of some of the dispensations of God's holy providence 
here before many of you were born. I have noticed the 
seasons of prosperity and adversity through which the in- 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 137 

habitants have passed. I have mentioned some of the tem- 
poral blessings which we have enjoyed, and the precious 
seasons of revivals of religion among us, all of which de- 
mand our solemn and grateful remembrance. 

And now, my brethren and friends, I ask your prayers 
at the throne of grace, that my God would not forsake me 
now when I am old and grey-headed. That he would ''cast 
me not off in time of old age, and forsake me not when 
my strength faileth.'' And if it should please the great 
Head of the Church to continue me a little longer in his 
vineyard, and enable me to serve you in the ministerial 
work, I shall attempt to do it. But my services must be 
attended with failings and infirmities which will call for 
your love and candor. But according to human probability, 
as the Apostle Peter saith, "Shortly I must put off this my 
tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me." 
And may I be enabled to keep it in constant remembrance, 
and through grace be prepared to depart in peace when my 
Lord shall call. And may you, also, my people, and all 
who hear me this day, keep in mind that when a few days 
are come we must leave all mortal things and pass into the 
unseen world. There we must stand at the tribunal of God, 
and receive our doom for eternity. And oh, that by a vital 
union to Jesus, our dear Savior, evidenced by a life of holy 
obedience, we may through boundless mercy be accepted 
of our Judge, and enter with all the countless numbers of 
the redeemed into the joy of our Lord, and be employed 
through a never ending eternity in the sweet and delightful 
work of praise and thanksgiving to the Father, and to the 
Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Amen." 

The following is given as an "Appendix" to Mr. Bobbins' 
Half Century Sermon: 

"The settlement of the town of Norfolk began in the year 
1744, That, with several of the adjacent towns, was owned 
by the state, and they were all sold at public vendue in 
Middletown in 1742. Timothy Hosford of Windsor took a 
deed of one right of 400 acres, which he retained. All the 
other proprietors relinquished their rights and forfeited 



138 HISTOKY OF NORFOLK. 

their first payment, forty shillings on a right. There were 
fifty-three rights, of which one was reserved for a parson- 
age, one for schools, and one for the first minister. Hosford 
sold his right to Titus Brown, who afterwards lived and 
died in Norfolk. Titus sold his right to his brother, Cor- 
nelius Brown, of Windsor (Pawquannock.) Cornelius Brown 
came to Norfolk soon after his purchase, in the spring of 
1744. A road from Torrington to Canaan was opened, 
mostly by the Canaan people, the preceding year. In Sep- 
tember, 1744, Mr. Brown moved his family to Norfolk, anci 
lived in a log house a little east of the place where Mr, 
George Ives now lives. He sowed no grain the first year, 
being much discouraged on account of the Indian and 
French war. The team which brought Brown's family was 
the first loaded team that came through the Green Woods. 
In the spring of 1745 Mr, John Turner, brother of Mr. 
Brown's wife, came with his family from Hartford and lived 
on the rising ground a little east of Brown's. In the fall 
of 1745 Mr. Jedediah Richards, brother to Mr, Turner's wife, 
came from Hartford with his family and lived in a small 
framed house built by him in the course of the summer, 
on the spot where Mr. Nathaniel Pease now lives. These 
families lived on Brown's right. They were pious and ex- 
emplary families, attending religious worship and ordi- 
nances in Canaan. 

The town was sold at vendue at Middletown a second 
time, excepting Brown's right, in 1754, soon after which a 
number of industrious, worthy families settled in the town. 
At the north part the first settlers were Ebenezer and Ezra 
Knapp, who were soon joined by James Benedict, Samuel 
Knapp, Jacob Spaulding and Isaac Holt. The Knapps and 
Benedict were from Danbury. S. Knapp and Spaulding are 
now living. 

In the south part the first settlers were Joseph Mills, 
Samuel Mills, Asahel Case and Samuel Cowles, all from 
Simsbury. 

The most of these early settlers lived to old age, and were 
firm friends of religious order and vital piety. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 139 

Three or four years after Brown's settlement, Samuel 
Manross came from Farmington, now Bristol, and built a 
log house where the meeting-house now stands. 

Edward Strickland came from Simsbury a year or two 
after Manross and lived where Mr, Nathaniel Robbing now 
lives. 

Samuel Gaylord and Benoni Moses were early settlers, 
before the second sale of the town, it is believed. They lived 
near the brook, a little above the centre mills. Joshua 
Whitney came from Canaan after the second sale of the 
town and erected a framed house where Linus McKean now 
lives. 

At an early period of the settlement Brown erected a 
saw-mill at the place of the present centre mills. 

The first house in the north part of the town was a frame, 
built by Ezra Kuapp where Mr. Martin Green now lives. 

The present meeting-house was erected in 1760, two years 
after the incorporation of the town. The inner part was not 
finished for many years after. The land tax, mentioned in 
the preceding discourse, was two pence an acre annually 
for four years, — one-half to be applied to the erection of a 
meeting-house, the other half to hire preaching. The agent 
at the Assembly to procure the second sale of the town, — 
the incorporation and the land-tax, — was John Turner. 
Brown, the first settler, sold his first place and settled 
where Mr. Thomas Tibbals afterwards lived. He sold that 
place to Tibbals and began again in the southwest part of 
the town, where he lived till his death. 

The first sermon preached in the town was by one Treat, 
who had been settled in the ministry and was a temporary 
resident. The meeting was at Richards'. The first settlers 
got considerable by hunting, particularly deer. The low 
meadows near the centre of the town were mostly open, 
and supplied them with hay. The first burials were in 
Canaan. The first person buried in the town was the wife 
of Jedediah Turner, who lived a little west of Col. J. W. 
Phelps' present house. Her grave, with two others, were 
at the place where Col. Phelps' house stands. The next 



140 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

burials were in the present center burying place. The first 
child born in the town was Stephen, son of Cornelius 
Brown. The first militia was a Lieutenant's company, com- 
manded by Lieutenant Whitney. When it was made a full 
company Whitney was the Captain. The second Captain 
was George Palmer. 

The first Justice of the Peace was Joshua Whitney, who 
was in office in Canaan before he moved into the town. 
He was in office in Norfolk before the incorporation of the 
town. The second Justice was Michael Humphreys, ap- 
pointed in 1760. The next was Giles Pettibone, appointed 
in 1773. Col. Pettibone held that office, and after 1777 the 
office of Judge of Probate, till he resigned them in May, 
1807. He died March, 1810, aged 75. Hosea Wilcox was 
appointed a justice of the peace in 1778. The next was 
Dudley Humphreys, appointed in 1780. Those since ap- 
pointed are Asahel Humphreys, Nathaniel Stephens, 
Eleazer Holt, Augustus Pettibone, Benjamin Welch and 
Joseph Battell. The four latter are now in office. 

A Probate District, called the District of Norfolk, was 
established by the Legislature in May, 1779. Giles Petti- 
bone, Esq., was appointed the Judge. At his resignation in 
1807, Augustus Pettibone, Esq., his son, the present Judge, 
was appointed. 

The town was first represented in the General Assembly 
in October, 1777. The representatives were Giles Pettibone 
and William Walter. 

May the posterity of the venerable fathers and first set- 
tlers of this town ever "stand in the ways and see, and ask 
for the old paths where is the good way, and walk therein, 
that they may find rest for their souls." 



If '^^ 






%3 '%k. ■ 




HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 141 



X. 

a century sermon. 
By Rev. Thomas Robbins, D.D. 

At a town meeting December 2, 1844, Amos Pettibone, 
Michael F. Mills and Darius Phelps were appointed a com- 
mittee ''To invite Dr. Thomas Robbins to deliver a Cen- 
tennial Address to the people of Norfolk, between this and 
the first of January next, and that they make suitable prep- 
aration for the occasion." 

December 25, 1844, in accordance with the above vote, 
Rev. Thomas Robbins, D. D., son of the first pastor of the 
church, preached in the church in Norfolk a sermon of an 
historical character, that year having been the one hun- 
dredth anniversary of the settlement of the town. The 
writer, then seven years old, distinctly remembers being 
present on this occasion, and the two things that made a 
lasting impression on his memory were the length of the 
sermon and the singing of the last hymn, which Dr. Rob- 
bins "lined" in the old-fashioned way, reading one line of 
the hymn and then pausing while the choir and the congre- 
gation sang that line, then reading the next line, and so on. 
The hymn as he recalls it was the one commencing "Be 
Thou, O God, Exalted High," sung to the tune of "Old 
Hundred." 

This service and the delivery of this discourse was the 
celebration of the town's centennial. The discourse has 
never been published. The original manuscript is owned 
by the Connecticut Historical Society at Hartford, and 
through the courtesy of the Library Committee of the 
society a copy has been obtained for the town's history. Dr. 
Thomas Robbins was the founder and first president of the 
society. The historical part of the discourse is as follows: 



142 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

"My respected audience, my fellow townsmen, the sug- 
gestions that have been made with regard to the duties of 
the people of our state and country, to venerate their an- 
cestors and imitate their example, apply with equal force, 
though a more limited extent, to the natives and inhabi- 
tants of this town. I rejoice with you this day and praise 
the God of our fathers that he has preserved this our home 
in great peace and prosperity to the completion of an hun- 
dred years from its first settlement. This year completes a 
century since the echo of the axeman, the movement of the 
plowman, the prayer of the Christian, were first heard 
amid the tall forest with which it was overspread. This 
was among the later towns in the state in which a settle- 
ment commenced. Canaan, Salisbury, Goshen, preceded us 
a few years. The town was purchased of the state by pro- 
prietors and owned by them in fifty-three rights. One of 
them was reserved for a parsonage, one for schools and one 
for the first minister. 

The first sale of the town was by public auction in 1742. 
Most of the purchasers afterwards relinquished their 
rights and there was a second sale a few years afterwards. 
Timothy Hosford of Windsor took a deed of one right at 
the first sale, which was the only one retained. This he 
sold to Titus Brown, who afterwards lived and died in this 
town. Titus sold his right to his brother, Cornelius Brown. 
These were sons of Deacon Cornelius Brown of Windsor 
(Pouquonock.) Cornelius Brown came to Norfolk soon after 
his purchase in the spring of 1744. A road from Torrington 
to Canaan was opened, mostly by the Canaan people, the 
preceding year. In September, 1744, Mr. Brown moved his 
family to Norfolk and lived in a log house a little east of 
the house formerly occupied by Capt. Titus Ives, now 
owned by Mr. E. Grove Lawrence. He sowed no grain the 
f rst year, being much discouraged on account of the Indian 
and French war. This was the year before the celebrated 
military expedition to the Island of Cape Breton, which re- 
sulted in the capture of the strong fortress of Louisburgh, 
one of the most memorable events in the history of New 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 143 

England. We are not to wonder at the tardy progress of 
the settlement. All men considered it a very doubtful ques- 
tion at that time whether the New England colonies would 
continue under the protection of the British crown or be 
transferred to France, the favorite object of the French 
ministry, and be annexed to Canada, an annexation for 
which our fathers had no relish. 

The team which brought Brown's family was the first 
loaded team that came through the Green Woods. In the 
spring of 1745 Mr. John Turner, brother of Mr. Brown's 
wife, came with his family from Hartford and lived on the 
rising ground a little to the east of Brown's. In the fall of 
the same year Mr. Jedediah Richards, brother to Mr. 
Turner's wife, came from Hartford with his family and 
lived in a small framed house built by him in the course of 
the summer on the site long occupied by the late Nathaniel 
Pease. These families lived on land belonging to Mr. 
Brown's original right. They were pious and exemplary 
families, attending religious worship and ordinances in 
Canaan. The Browns were bred under the faithful min- 
istry of Mr. Samuel Tudor. 

Three or four years after Brown's settlement, Samuel 
Manross came from Farmington, now Bristol, and built a 
log house where the meeting-house now stands. He ob- 
served when putting up his house that that would be the site 
for the meeting-house, which afterwards proved to be the 
case. The name of this early settler, of whom various anec- 
dotes have been told, was commonly pronounced Mo-raugh. 
Edward Strickland came to this place soon after Manross, 
from Simsbury, and lived where Mr. Warren Cone now 
lives. Samuel Gaylord and Benoni Moses were early set- 
tlers, supposed to have been here previous to the second sale 
of the town. They lived near the brook, a little above the 
centre Mills. The town was sold at public auction, except- 
ing Brown's right, the second time at Middletown, in 1754, 
soon after which a number of industrious, worthy families 
settled in the town. Joshua Whitney came from Canaan 
and erected a framed house where Major Shepard now 



144 HISTOEY OF NOKFOLK. 

lives. The first settlers in the north part of the town were 
Ebenezer and Ezra Knapp, who were soon joined by James 
Benedict, Samuel Knapp, Jacob Spaulding and Isaac Holt. 
Oapt. Holt was from East Haven. The Knapps and Bene- 
dict were from Danbury. In the south part the first set- 
tlers were Joseph Mills, Samuel Mills, Asahel Case and 
Samuel Cowles, all from Simsbury. The most of these 
early settlers were firm friends of religious order and vital 
piety. At this time, say 1758, the settlement of the town 
may be said to have become established, consisting of about 
twenty-five families. 

The first house in the north part of the town was a 
framed house built by Ezra Knapp, a little west of the 
present house of Major Bushnell Knapp. Cornelius Brown, 
early erected a saw-mill at the place of the present centre 
mills. I conclude a grist-mill could not have been long 
delayed. The first road through the town from Canaan to 
Torrington came on the north side of the main stream of 
the town, through what was called the Dug-way, over the 
hill north of the Burying-ground; thence south, and as- 
cended the north side of this hill, coming along on the 
summit of what we used to call the ledge, about where Mr. 
Battell's house now stands, passed to the south, crossing 
to the west of the bridge near the west side of my father's 
house, and went on to the south near the foot of the Burr 
Mountain. The road to Goshen was opened soon, but the 
eastern one, I suppose, was the first. 

And now, my hearers, let us pause for a moment and con- 
template the condition of our venerable parents and pre- 
decessors at the period which we have reached. They were 
encompassed with diflSculties, oppressed with burdens 
which their present descendants would feel too great to be 
borne. Such as would fill ordinary minds with dismay, and 
such as ordinary physical powers would be unable to sus- 
tain. Houses and barns must be built, roads opened and 
bridges made. Places where are now pleasant meadows 
were impassable swamps; mills to be erected; tall forests, 
the growth of ages, to be levelled and cultivated. Their few 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 145 

herds and flocks were exposed to the prowling beasts of the 
forest, and little help to be obtained from any places in the 
vicinity. In the former part of this period there was a 
disastrous war on their borders, by which the frontier set- 
tlements were peculiarly exposed, and at the latter part of 
this period, in 1755, a new war commenced, of which Can- 
ada was the principal seat, and heavy drafts of men and 
munitions of war were made upon the colonies of New 
England. 

The few families we have contemplated were dispersed 
over this extensive town, yet a house of worship must be 
erected and schools provided for their children. But amid 
all these embarrassments they were steadfast in their pur- 
pose; they were devoted to frugality and industry, in har- 
mony with each other, and unchanging perseverance, they 
rested their hope on a faithful God and Savior, on that 
covenant God who for more than an hundred years preced- 
ing had continually sustained the successive generations 
of the Pilgrims through similar straits, afflictions and dan- 
gers. They were laboring for their future days, for us their 
posterity, for the glory of their Lord; and the God of their 
fathers did not forsake them. 

The new lands of the town produced good crops; much 
wheat and corn were raised, and afterwards grass and pas- 
turage in abundance. At the beginning of the settlement 
the low meadows near the centre of the town were consid- 
erably open, and from them some of the settlers obtained 
their first hay. The sugar maple was for many years a 
source of much comfort and profit. Within my remem- 
brance, much grain was procured every year from the grain 
towns of Canaan and Salisbury, in exchange for the maple 
sugar. This town was distinguished for the quantity and 
quality of that article. Provisions to a considerable extent 
and some other articles of value were obtained by hunting 
in the forest. This exercise has been highly exciting and 
pursued with great fondness by all people and in all ages 
of our race. It has ever been a principal support of the 
rude stages of society, and the favorite amusement of the 
most refined. 



146 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

The inhabitants of this town were incorporated by an 
act of the Legislature in 1758. The General Assembly also 
authorized the town to lay a land tax of two pence an acre 
for four years; one-half to be appropriated to the erection 
of a meeting-house and the other half to hire preaching. 
The agent of the town to procure these objects, and also 
the second sale of the town, was John Turner. 

Cornelius Brown, who was really the father of the town, 
sold his first place at an early period, and settled where Mr. 
Thomas Tibbals afterwards lived, about three-fourths of a 
mile south from the meeting-house. He afterwards sold 
that place to Mr. Tibbals and began again in the southwest 
part of the town, where he lived till his death. 

Two families of the name of Meeker afterwards settled 
near Mr. Brown's, which gave a name to that part of the 
town. 

I have not been able to ascertain at what period public 
religious worship began to be observed in the town. The 
first families attended public worship for some time in 
Canaan, but it was early introduced and generally main- 
tained in their own town. 

The first sermon preached in the town was by a preacher 
of the name of Treat, and was a temporary resident. The 
meeting was at the house of Mr. Richards. The meeting- 
house was erected in 1760, — two years after the incorpora- 
tion of the town. As a considerable portion of the expense 
was defrayed by a land-tax, a part of it was paid by non- 
residents. I presume that the towns were released from 
the Colonial tax for two or three years, while building their 
meeting-house, as this was the common practice in the 
Colony. When the frame of the house was raised, they 
sang an hymn and prayed, and all persons belonging to the 
town sat down on the outward sills of the building. 

The house was larger and was used longer than was 
common with the first meeting-houses in the towns of the 
state. It was 50 by 40 feet, with 20 foot posts, and stood 
53 years. 

The house was enclosed and well finished in the exterior 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. Ii7 

the first season, and in the spring following it was painted 
a peach-blow color. It was not finished in the inside till 
the year 1769. It was painted white in 1793. 

The first child born in the town was Stephen, son of Cor- 
nelius Brown. The first person buried in the town was the 
wife of Jedediah Turner, who lived a little west of the 
house of the late Jeremiah Phelps. Her grave, with two 
others, were at the place where Col. Phelps' house now 
stands. The next burials were in the present centre bury- 
ing-place. I know of no other burying-place till the one in 
the south part of the town, begun about the year 1790. The 
first grave was the aged Mrs. Cowles, widow of Mr. Joseph 
Cowles, and mother of the late Ebenezer Cowles. 

Previous to the erection of the meeting-house, public 
worship was held in private houses, and several preachers 
of reputable character preached for a while in the town to 
good acceptance and profit. Measures were taken for the 
settlement of two or three of them, but for want of una- 
nimity it did not take place. 

In the spring of 1760 my father, then recently licensed 
as a preacher, having graduated the preceding year at Yale 
College and studied divinity in the interval with Dr. Bel- 
lamy of Bethlehem, was invited to come to Norfolk to sup- 
ply the people. He came here in June, 1761. The church 
was previously organized by Rev. Daniel Farrand of 
Canaan, on the 24th of December, 1760, consisting of 
twenty-three members. Mr. Farrand had done much for the 
people here before the settlement of a pastor, as my father 
did in a like case for the people of Colebrook. After preach- 
ing a few months my father accepted a call of the people 
to be their pastor, and was ordained October 28th, 1761. 
His father. Rev. Philemon Robbins of Branford, preached 
on the occasion, and Dr. Bellamy, Mr. Champion of Litch- 
field and others assisted at the ordination. At the time my 
father came here there were about fifty families in the 
town, and some ten or twelve moved in during that year. 
He has often told me that the new meeting-house made a 
fine appearance among the trees, then new glazed and 



148 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

painted, the most of the trees on the Green still standing; 
the meeting-house not visible from the place where he built 
his house the following year. But for some years after this 
there was a good progress in clearing and cultivating the 
new lands. Yet no small portion continued within my 
remembrance. Now I suppose there is no more in wood 
than is desirable. In the north part of the town there was 
a good deal of valuable pine timber, and some in other 
parts, which } conclude is now generally cut off. If a 
growth of different timber has succeeded, when that shall 
have come to maturity and be removed the pine will return 
From the time of the formation of the church, consisting 
of 23 members, to the settlement of the pastor, 15 members 
were added, mostly from other churches, making at that 
time 38. The first church meeting was holden November 
l9th, 1761. At that meeting Mr. Michael Humphreys was 
chosen to the office of deacon. He served in the office alone 
for about four years, when Mr. Abraham Camp was chosen 
to the same office. Those elected to the office since that 
time are, in succession, Joseph Mills, Abraham Hall, Jared 
Butler, Samuel Mills, David Frisbie, Edward Gaylord, Noah 
Miner, Sylvanus Norton, Amos Pettibone, Samuel Cone, 
Darius Phelps, Dudley Norton. To omit any remark on the 
living, those that are gone are men of gifts, faithful in the 
duties, the arduous and important duties of the office, and 
exemplary in the Christian character. The church has been 
uniformly sustained and enlarged in the rich mercy of their 
Lord, and has continued exactly 84 years, in great union 
and harmony, and by the divine power, in much prosperity. 
It has had more discipline than most churches, but these 
measures have strengthened the church and increased its 
reputation with those that are without. There have been 
some difficult cases of discipline and the advice of ecclesi- 
astical councils has been called, and they have been bur- 
dened with the question, not uncommon, whether the mar- 
riage of a wife's sister or a brother's wife is to be treated 
as a disciplinable offense; a question which will not be set- 
tled till a more enlightened age of the church. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 149 

This church and people have long continued in great har- 
mony among themselves, and with their ministers, for 
which it becomes us to rejoice, to commend the character 
and conduct of our fathers and predecessors, and especially 
to praise that holy God from whom cometh all peace and 
concord. There have uniformly been leading men, who 
were men of prudence, acting from a conscientious sense 
of duty. In these things the ministers and the civil au- 
thority have fully performed their due share. The faithful 
observance of gospel ordinances and the steady preaching 
of the true gospel of Christ Jesus, as I believe, has had as 
might be well expected, the special blessing of God. 

It has pleased him in the riches of his mercy to accom- 
pany his own institutions with his ordinary blessing, and at 
various periods, to revive his work with the mighty influ- 
ence of his grace. The first period of revival under my 
father's ministry was in 1767. There was an uncommon 
seriousness and attention to religion through the town. As 
the result of this work ten or twelve persons united with 
the church. In the year 1783, sixteen years after the period 
just noticed, there was a great and good work of divine 
grace spreading through the town. This revival I well 
remember. It was soon after the close of the Revolutionary 
war. During that anxious period, when the minds of all 
were deeply interested in public events, there were, as 
might well be expected, few seasons of revival through the 
country. My father had poor health at that time, and he 
was much assisted by neighboring ministers, and some from 
a distance. 

Meetings were numerous; conferences were often held 
without any minister. The population of the town at that 
time had become about as great as at any time since. This 
revival greatly enlarged and strengthened the church. The 
members added in 1783 were 33; in '84, 27. 

After this period this church was spoken of for a number 
of years as among the largest churches in the state. Six- 
teen years from this period, 1799 and 1800, this people were 
favored with the greatest religious revival, as I suppose, 



150 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

that they have ever had. This was in connection with a 
very distinguished work of grace through this vicinity, and 
in other places. The preaching was mostly doctrinal, ex- 
hibiting in earnest manner the truths of the gospel and 
the only way of salvation through Jesus Christ. I think 
it proper to add that that revival was substantially the 
true source of the great modern impulse given to mis- 
sions. . . . 

The monthly Concert of prayer, the lever by which the 
vast fabric of Mahometanism and Idolatry are to be over- 
thrown, commenced in 1795, but it did not become con- 
firmed and established till after these revivals. . . . My 
father says in his Half-Century Sermon, 'In consequence 
of the revival of 1783, fifty-two were added to the church, 
and of that of 1799, about one hundred and sixty.' There 
was a good work of grace among this people in the year 
1815, when the people were destitute of a pastor. They 
were regularly supplied with preaching, and the brethren 
of the church were active and faithful in the important 
duties devolving upon them. This revival was followed 
with large additions to the church; twenty-two having been 
received in 1815 and in the following year, one hundred 
and three. . . . 

There was a revival during the ministry of Dr. Emerson 
in the year 1827, — a work of grace still and solemn, for 
which many will praise God forever. In the year 1831, 
while a great work of divine grace prevailed extensively 
through the land, this town had their share in the merciful 
visitations of the divine spirit. The people were at this 
time also destitute of a pastor, and this work of grace may 
well be considered as a blessing of God on the faithful 
labors of their pastor who had left them the preceding 
year. I supplied the pulpit for three months in the sum- 
mer of 1831, and after me was the Rev. William Mitchel, 
now of Rutland, Vermont. This time of awakening was 
connected with the faithful labors of Mr. Emerson. 
Though his pastoral connection had then been dissolved, he 
left the field and others brought in the harvest. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 151 

The number added to the church at a religious attention 
in 1821 and '22 was sixty; in '27 and '28, one hundred and 
twenty-one; and in 1831 and '32, eighty -three. The first 
pastor of this church, as has been stated, was the Rev. Mr. 
Bobbins, ordained here in October, 1761. Fifty years from 
that time, October 28th, 1811, he preached his Half-century 
Sermon, which was published at the desire of the people. 
In May, 1813, he was suddenly taken ill with a complaint 
which defeated all medical skill, and after some weeks was 
found to be a cancerous tumour. This malady continued 
its steady progress six months, to the 30th of November, 
when he died. He was 73 years of age, and had just 52 
years in his ministry with this people." (The present writer 
has been informed that the first public use of the present 
church was the funeral of Mr. Bobbins.) 

"The people were not forgotten in their destitute state. 
Several worthy preachers were employed during a period 
of two years; their union and harmony continued unim- 
paired till they gave a call to Mr. Ralph Emerson, a tutor 
in Yale College, to be their pastor. After due deliberation 
he accepted of their call, and was ordained in June, 1816. 
The Rev. Dr. Lyman Beecher of Litchfield preached on the 
occasion. Mr. Emerson continued in great harmony with 
his people, highly esteemed in his own and the neighbor- 
ing towns, much devoted to study in connection with his 
pastoral labors. In 1829 he was elected to an important 
professorship in the Theological Seminary at Andover, 
Mass. After much hesitation he informed his people that 
he considered it his duty to comply with that call, and his 
people with much hesitation and reluctance consented to 
his removal. He was dismissed in the beginning of the 
following year, and still continues in the services of that 
important Institution. 

Mr. Eldridge, the present pastor, was invited to preach 
to this people in the former part of the year 1832, having 
been recently elected a Tutor of Yale College. He was or- 
dained April 25th of that year. Rev. Dr. Taylor of New 
Haven preached on the occasion. The long existing har- 



152 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

mony between this people and their minister continues, 
and the same divine Spirit who has succeeded the labors 
of his predecessors has added a blessing to his. There was 
more than a usual attention to the things of religion in 
1838, and three years after, a work of divine grace which 
issued in the addition of thirty-five members to the church. 

The first meeting-house was built in 1760. That house 
accommodated the people well, though for many years it 
was usually very full on the Sabbath. That house was 
taken down in the summer of 1813, during my father's last 
illness. He attended meeting on the afternoon of the Sab- 
bath in a feeble state, and at the close of the exercise he 
administered the ordinance of baptism. It was the last 
public service he performed and the last performed in that 
house. The new house, this house, of convenient size and 
chaste architecture, was erected that season on the site 
of the former, and in a few months made convenient for 
public worship. It was dedicated to God June the follow- 
ing year, and we renew the prayer we then made, that the 
glory of this latter house may be greater than the glory of 
the former. 

The Ecclesiastical transactions of the town have gen- 
erally been conducted with great harmony. It was not 
found necessary for many years to organize an Ecclesias- 
tical Society. The business was done at the town meet- 
ings, and any persons professing to belong to any other 
denomination than the predominant one were left out of 
the tax-bill. Some time after my father's death, an Ecclesi- 
astical Society was organized. 

A few other facts will be briefly noticed. The population 
of the town from small beginnings, continued to increase 
gradually and steadily till after the close of the Revolu- 
tionary war. The population of the town in 1756, two 
years before its incorporation, was 84. In the year 1774 
it was 969. The population at the census in 1830 was 1485; 
in 1840, 1389. At about the year 1785 I think the popula- 
tion was perhaps as great as it has been at any time. From 
that period or a little previous, families began to emigrate 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 153 

to the new settlements. Many young men left the town 
for the same purpose. Early emigrations were made to 
the Susquehannah, then in considerable numbers for sev- 
eral years to Vermont. The course then turned to the Mo- 
hawk river, to Whitestown, and to various and more dis- 
tant parts of the state of New York. The next was to the 
Western Eeserve, and to the farther west, as it still con- 
tinues. During a period of fifty years the population has 
not materially varied. My father often said there are near 
three hundred families. Generally the population has 
been near 1500. We generally had no occasion to be 
ashamed of those who have emigrated from the town. They 
have usually been industrious, reputable people. Good at- 
tention has been paid in this town to the education of chil- 
dren and youth. I believe there were more school districts 
in 1785 than there are now. Probably they were not as 
large. A good number have had a College education and 
have become highly reputable and useful in the community. 

The schools were regularly visited and catechised, ante- 
cedent to the present school law in connection with the 
State School Fund, and I believe the youth in this state 
could read and spell as well, the most important parts of 
education, twenty years ago as they can now. 

This town has generally been very healthy. Many of 
the inhabitants have lived to old age. My father observes 
in his Sermon, 'Many, both men and women, have lived to 
a great age; several above ninety years, and one above an 
hundred years.' Mr. Nathaniel Roys died a few years since 
in his hundredth year, and he lived with his wife, a second 
wife, more than seventy years. 

The year 1777 was very sickly; the epidemic was the 
Camp-distemper, as then denominated. There were 56 
deaths that year and 38 the year following. In the year 
1774 a distressing accident took place near the house owned 
by the late Ephraim Coy. As they were digging a deep 
well the earth suddenly caved in and two men, Jacob Holt 
and Levi Cowles, were buried under the load of earth. 
Their bodies were taken out some hours afterward. In 



154 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

the year 17S6, many people having had severe ravages in 
their flocks by wolves, several hunters having pursued 
them for several days found that they were on Haystack 
mountain. A large number of men were collected on 
Thanksgiving-day, surrounded the mountain, closed in upon 
them and four were killed. Thepeople were not much an- 
noyed by the fell destroyer afterwards. 

The shade-trees on this Green were set out in the spring 
of 1788. They were Elms and Buttonwoods. The number 
set were 57. Numbers of them failed the first year, and 
many others afterwards for want of due protection. The 
green was ploughed up and levelled in 1809. I might 
mention various other reminiscences, and give a de- 
served account of individual persons if I had oppor- 
tunity for a collection of facts, and were it not that it is 
time to bring this discourse to a close. It is highly desir- 
able that every town should have its own history for the 
benefit of future generations, as such documents are 
always the most safe and important material for national 
history. We have now an Institution in the state where 
all such articles are thankfully received, either in print 
or manuscript, carefully preserved, and as far as human 
skill can go, secure from the ravages of fire. 

And now, my respected audience, particularly my fellow 
townsmen, what shall we say in a contemplation of the 
scenes which have briefly passed in review before us? In 
the retrospect of a century we see what God has done for 
our fathers and for us. Here his gospel has been preached 
and taught in its purity and he has given it his blessing. 
Religious ordinances have been faithfully preserved, and 
God has taken souls to heaven. We are to praise him for 
their example and their prayers. Let not the precious 
legacy be lost or decline in our hands. 

From small beginnings here is a respectable town, a 
harmonious congregation, a numerous church. All of the 
grace of God. Our fathers trusted in him in all their 
straits, and were not forsaken. We are called by all the 
blessings of Providence and Grace which we have witnessed 
to go and do likewise. . . . 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 155 

Another century will gradually roll away, carrying on 
the high purposes of heaven, and advancing the day of the 
prosperity of Zion. Before its expiration we shall have 
passed to the invisible world. They that are wise will join 
the Spirits of just men made perfect, around the throne of 
the Eternal. The next meeting of this great assembly 
will be at the bar of Christ. The babe of Bethlehem, the 
victim of Calvary will be on the throne. They who joy in 
his presence will then meet to part no more. 

I conclude in the words of Solomon: 'The Lord our God 
be with us, as he was with our father; let him not leave 
us nor forsake us, that he may incline our hearts unto him, 
to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, 
and his statutes and his judgments, which he commanded 
our fathers.' " 

Norfolk, December 24th, 1844. 



XI. 

NORFOLK ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETY — SOME RECORDS OF THE DOINGS 
OF THIS SOCIETY FROM ITS FORMATION IN 1813, UNTIL THE CLOSE 
OF THE PASTORATE OF DR. JOSEPH ELDRIDGE, IN 1874. 

The "Norfolk Ecclesiastical Society," formed December 
13, 1813, of members of the Congregational Church and 
society of this town, — the only church organization here 
during a considerable part of the first century of the town's 
history, — has from the time of its formation been an or- 
ganization of no little importance in the affairs of the town. 
This Society manages the finances and all business affairs 
of the Church, somewhat as does the 'Board of Trustees' 
in the Presbyterian, and perhaps in churches of other de- 
nominations. 

Some account of the work of this Society seems essen- 
tial in a history of the town. The Society, so far as the 
writer is aware, has never had a written Constitution or a 



156 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Bye-law. None have ever seemed necessary. Any mem- 
ber of the congregation, by having his or her name pro- 
posed at any meeting of the society and being voted in at 
the next meeting, becomes a member. 

The manner of raising money for the expenses of the 
church of every kind, not including its benevolences, was, 
until 1875, by laying and collecting taxes on the grand 
list of the town of all members of the congregation and 
church, whether ever voted in as members of this society 
or not. This was called the 'Society's tax,' and was for 
many years collected by a collector appointed by the so- 
ciety. This method of raising the money necessary to pay 
the pastor's salary and other expenses was continued every 
year until the first sale of seats in the church, in November, 
1875. 

The first officers of the society, elected upon the day of 
its formation, were Augustus Pettibone, Nicholas Holt and 
Deacon Edward Gay lord, Society's Committee; Auren 
Roys, Clerk; Joseph Battell, Treasurer; Thomas Curtiss, 
Collector. Those same offices, except Collector, have been 
filled by elections annually now for about eighty-seven 
years. The first Clerk of the society, Auren Roys, was re- 
elected annually and served in that capacity for thirty-nine 
years, and his successor, Elizur Dowd, served continuously 
for twenty-five years; the books of record of the Society 
as kept by these two men are models of neatness and care. 
In the earlier years the taxes of the society were paid in 
produce, and at this first meeting Jeremiah W. Phelps, 
Nathaniel Stevens and Elizur Munger were "appointed a 
Committee to apprize produce for the purpose of paying 
Mr. Robbins' salary last voted." Mr. Robbins, the first 
pastor of the church, had recently died, and the society 
at its first meeting instructed its Committee, "to draw ten 
dollars from the treasury and present to Rev. Chauncey 
Lee," (of Colebrook) and also "to return the thanks of the 
society to Mr. Lee for his sermon delivered at the funeral 
of Rev. Ammi R. Robbins." 

At this time thev were building their new meeting- 



fflSTORY OF NORFOLK. 157 

house, (the same building which is still in use,) and they 
voted at this meeting "to direct the Society's Committee 
to procure a suitable person to ring the bell, and that the 
bell be rung for all public meetings on the Sabbath and 
other days, on funeral occasions, and at 9-o'clock at night." 

At a meeting April 11, 1814, they voted "to pay Michael 
F. Mills, Esq., |150 for his services as agent for building 
the meeting-house; to raise |700 by subscription to complete 
the same, and authorized Mr. Mills to procure steps for 
the meeting-house and lay them, provided the expense does 
not exceed |150." They also voted, "To give the African 
descendants living in this Society two pews in the gallery, 
situated at the head of each staircase." 

May 5, they voted "to procure a cushion for the pulpit, 
blinds for the pulpit windows and a suitable number of 
chairs to stand by the communion table." June 27 of that 
year they "Voted to dedicate the meeting-house the last 
Tuesday of August next; to procure a clergyman to preach 
a sermon on the occasion; to lay a tax of 2 1-2 cents on 
the dollar on the August list, 1813, to defray the expenses 
of the Society; that any person who shall be convicted of 
cutting or scratching any part of the meeting-house shall 
be liable to pay a fine of |7." "Appropriated |40 for in- 
structing the singers for public worship." 

May 22, 1815, "Voted unanimously, 101 votes, to call Mr. 
Kalph Emerson to settle with this church and society as 
their gospel minister, and to pay him an annual salary of 
$700." Sept. 25, "Voted to request Mr. Emerson to preach 
all the time he can be spared from Yale College, (where he 
was employed as Tutor,) through the winter, and that we 
will wait until May next for him to return and settle." 

June 10, 1816. A formal contract was entered into, 
signed and recorded, between the Society and Mr. Emer- 
son. The Society to pay him |700 a year salary; he to faith- 
fully perform the duties reasonably to be expected of him 
as a gospel minister. The Committee who signed this con- 
tract were: Dr. Benjamin Welch, Nathaniel Stevens, Mi- 
chael F. Mills, Eleazer Holt, Joseph Battell, Augustus 
Pettibone. 



158 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Dec. 2, 1816. "Appointed a committee of five to dignify 
the seats in the meeting-house;'' and "appointed a com- 
mittee of seven to seat the meeting-house." 

(This dignifying committee were at one time instructed 
by vote of the town, that one year additional of age should 
count the same as £5 upon the grand list.) 

Dec, 1817. "Voted that this meeting approves of the 
plan proposed for building a conference room, a second 
story on the new schoolhouse to be built by the middle 
school district, provided it may be done by subscription." 
"Voted to reseat the meeting-house; and that each mem- 
ber of this society be requested to send in their name and 
age to Mr. Battell's store within one week." 

Dec, 1820. "Appointed a committee to solicit subscrip- 
tions to pay Barzel Treats* loss in building the Conference- 
room." 

Nov., 1821. "Instructed the Society's Committee to fur- 
nish Barzel Treat with suitable strings for his Bass Viol 
so as to enable him to assist the choir of singers in this 
society." 

Nov. 4, 1822. Appointed a committee to solicit subscrip- 
tions to purchase an Organ now offered to this society. 

Nov. 7, 1825. Authorized the Committee to remove the 
pews each side of the organ, and make slips in their stead 
for the convenience of the choir of singers, provided the 
expense to the Society shall not exceed |12. 

I will here quote from Rev. J. W. Beach's Centennial 
Sermon of July, 1876, in which he mentions Church music, 
so often mentioned in the business meetings and votes of 
the Ecclesiastical Society, and many other matters. He 
says: "It will be proper in this connection to speak of 
the history of your church music, since it was from this 
beginning by the first pastor, followed up by his descend- 
ants in the Battell family, that it came to be what it was. 
The first chorister was Isaac Pettibone. Ezekiel Wilcocks 
was his alternate and after 1768 his successor. For some 
years the singers were scattered through the congregation 
and caught the tune and time from the leader, whose chief 



HISTOKY OF NORFOLK. 159 

need was a strong voice. The psalm was first announced 
and read by the minister; then the senior deacon from his 
prominent pew under the pulpit would read the first line, 
which was sung, and then the singers paused till the next 
line was read, and so on through the psalm. This method 
appears to have continued until December, 1778, when in 
connection with a new seating of the house, the town ap- 
propriated the whole of the front gallery and the lower 
tier of seats in the side galleries to the singers. The chor- 
isters were at first appointed by the church, but in May, 
1774, the town evidently jealous of its prerogative in ex- 
ternals, voted ^that the town have right to order and direct 
in respect to singing in public worship,' and forthwith 
chose a set of choristers. 

The church ceased to do this from that time and it was 
managed by the town, new appointments being made in 
case of vacancy until December, 1794, — the last recorded 
instance of their appointment. It is probable that then 
began the custom, now in use, of the choir selecting its own 
leaders. Money to aid the choir was also voted by the 
town from time to time until the Society was organized 
in 1818. The first appropriation for this purpose was De- 
cember 10, 1798, when it was voted, ^that the selectmen 
make the rate bill for Mr. Bobbins' salary twelve dollars 
bigger than to pay him, and have a right to appropriate 
that money to the use of singing if they see cause.' After 
the Ecclesiastical Society was organized, money was 
raised for this purpose commonly by subscription. In 
1824 Mr. Joseph Battell, son-in-law of Mr. Bobbins, made 
a donation of $833.34 to the fund of the society, on condi- 
tion that |50 a year be expended for the improvement of 
sacred music. The church still enjoys the benefit of this 
generous gift. Of Hymn Books, the earliest now known 
to have been used was Barlow's Psalm Book, though it is 
quite possible some other may have preceded it. This was 
discontinued by church vote in February, 1804, and Dr. 
Dwight's Psalms and Hymns taken in its place. This did 
more than forty years' service, and only gave way to the 



160 mSTOKY OF NORFOLK. 

Tsalms and Hymns' of the General Association of the 
state, in November, 1845. In 1869 Robinson's 'Songs for 
the Sanctuary,' with tunes, superseded this. ('Watts' Vil- 
lage Hymns' were used at all meetings in the Conference 
Room probably for fifty years.) There was less prejudice 
against instrumental music than in most places, yet the 
feeling was not altogether wanting. The violin and bass 
viol were in use early in the present century. 

An organ was obtained much earlier than in most 
churches, but not without some objection to it on the score 
of propriety. It was set up May 10, 1822, and was replaced 
by the present one in April, 1852. Irene Battell, (Mrs. Prof. 
Lamed,) then a child of 11 years, and grand-daughter of 
Mr, Robbins, was the first organist. She was then so small 
that she had to stand up to play. She retained this posi- 
tion as long as she remained in town, and to her skill and 
enthusiasm in music after she arrived at maturity is 
chiefly due the superiority of this choir, which was for 
many years conceded to be the best in the county. 

In 1826 an association was formed for promoting sacred 
music, in connection with a County organization, of which 
she became the leading spirit, and at the annual festivals 
in Litchfield the Norfolk members were noted for their su- 
perior drill. The rest of Esquire Battell's family helped 
on the same end, and have furnished to this day a strong 
element in the choir, both in leadership and numbers." 

At this point I will insert a sketch of the formation and 
doings, and names of donors to the Ecclesiastical Society's 
Fund. 

Constitution of the "Norfolk Ecclesiastical Fund," Adopted De- 
cember 1, 1817. 

"The Ecclesiastical Society of Norfolk, impressed with the im- 
portance of the preached gospel to the present and eternal welfare 
of man, and feeling it their duty to do what a gracious Providence 
has placed in their power towards providing for its permanent sup- 
port among themselves and their posterity, do for that purpose 
agree to establish a fund, and for the establishment and direction 
of the same do adopt the following constitution: 



HISTOEY OF NORFOLK. 161 

Article 1. This fund shall be denominated The Norfolk Ecclesi- 
astical Fund. 

2. This fund shall consist of all the monies accruing to this 
society by an act of the Legislature passed October session, 1816, 
entitled 'An act for the support of Literature and Religion,' to- 
gether with the society's funds now on interest, amounting to 
$869.67, and such donations and grants as may hereafter be made 
to the society for the above purpose or for any other purpose which 
will consistently and legally admit of their being applied to this 
Fund. 

3. This Fund shall be vested in stock of incorporated banks, or 
stock in the funds of the United States,— and all avails of said fund, 
except $50, which is to be used for the support of preaching annu- 
ally, shall also be appropriated to the purchase of more stock, until 
the principal of this Fund shall amount to $6,666.67. 

4. When the principal of this Fund shall amount to the above 
sum of $6,666.67 or more, the annual income thereof shall be ap- 
plied to the support of the preaching of the gospel in this place by 
Orthodox ministers of the Congregational or Presbyterian denomi- 
nations, and to no other purpose. . . The surplus shall be dis- 
posed of by vote of the society. 

5. . . . It is expressly ordained that no part of the principal 
shall be expended for any purpose. 

6. . . . Whatever may at any time be given to this Fund 
shall be placed under the foregoing regulations. . . 

7. The names of all donors to this Fund . . . shall be an- 
nexed to this Constitution and recorded with the same. . . 

8. The Committee of this society, together with their Treasurer, 
shall, ex officio, constitute a board of Trustees for the management 
of this Fund, whose duty it shall be to collect monies, . .to sell 
and convey all real estate or other property which may be given 
to the society and which can be funded, to give direction when 
and where the money shall be invested, and to attend to all other 
necessary business in the management of the said Fund; and said 
Trustees shall receive no pay for their personal services. . . 

9. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive all monies 
that shall accrue to the Fund, . . to make all purchases and in- 
vestments of stock under the direction of the Trustees, . .and the 
said Treasurer shall give sufficient bonds with security for the faith- 
ful management of his trusts. 

DAVID FRISBIE, 
JOSEPH BATTELL, Esq., 
AUGUSTUS PETTIBONE, Esq., 
Committee. 
Norfolk, Nov. 17. 1817. 



162 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Nov. 13, 1820. Voted that the principal of the Ecclesiastical 
Society Fund be reduced to $5,000, at the receipt of which sum into 
the Fund the interest may be appropriated as mentioned in the 
constitution of said Fund. 

REVISION OF CONSTITUTION OF ECCLESIASTICAL FUND. 

Nov. 15, 1824. Whereas, Joseph Battell has stated that, pro- 
vided the society shall pass the annexed votes it is his intention that 
the subscriptions to the Ecclesiastical Fund he shall make here- 
after shall amount, with the accumulation of interest on the same, 
when the Fund is filled up, to eight hundred and thirty-three and 
one-third dollars, the annual interest of which will pay the sum 
proposed for sacred music, and to leave a provision in his will, if 
it is not done at his decease, to accomplish the object; therefore 

Voted, That the vote passed by this society at their meeting 
Nov. 13, 1820, authorizing the society to use the income of the Fund 
when the principal sum amounted to $5000 be, and the same is 
hereby repealed. 

Voted, that the following article be annexed to the Constitution 
of the Society's Fund and become a part of the same, viz:— 

Art. 10. The 4th article of this Constitution shall be so amended 
that it shall be the duty of the Trustees or a Committee appointed 
for that purpose by the society to appropriate $50 a year to the in- 
come of this Fund to the improvement of sacred music, and that 
the same shall be applied and used as often as once in three years. 

Persons who subscribed to this Fund: 

1818 to 1824, at various times, Joseph Battell $ 460.21 

1822, 1825 and 1826, Rev. Ralph Emerson 200.00 

3823, Moses Cowles 3.00 

1830, Jerusha Spaulding 28.80 

1831, Jos. BatteU's subscription for loss on Eagle Bank 1000.00 

1844, Old Parsonage Fund, estimated at (see Art. 2) 869.59 

1844, Ephraim Coy's Legacy, estimated at 4821.00 

Dec. 12, 1887. "Have received notice that Mrs. Urania Bat- 
tell Humphrey has willed the Ecclesiastical Society of 
Norfolk, to be added to the Fund $5000.00" 

April 9, 1896. 

From the Will of Oliver L. Hotchkiss, December, 1893. 

"I give, devise and bequeath to the Society's Committee 

of the Ecclesiastical Society of Norfolk, the sum of. . $500.00 
to be held by them and their successors in office, and 
the avails and uses of said sum to be paid over for the 
benefit and support of said society." 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 163 

Rev. Ralph Emerson, who was called to the pastorate of 
this church in May, 1815, received a call to the presidency 
of Western Reserve College, which call it would appear he 
was desirous of accepting, and asked that a council of the 
North Consociation of Litchfield County be convened to 
consider his dismission from this church. The society 
voted September, 1828, 95 to 18, not to submit the question 
of his dimission to the council. 

Oct. 22, 1829. Upon the question whether the Society 
will concur with Mr. Emerson in referring to a council of 
the consociation the question of his dismission from this 
church to accept a call to a professorship in the Theolog- 
ical Seminary at Andover, the vote was: yes, 11; no, 70. 

Nov. 19, 1829. Upon a renewed request of Mr. Emerson, 
he having received a renewed call to the Andover Theo- 
logical Seminary, it was "Voted that we consent to his re- 
quest of a dissolution of the pastoral connection with this 
church and Society." 

May 17, 1880. Voted to extend a call to Rev. John A. 
Albro, to settle as our minister. This call was declined. 

October, 1830. The Society voted to extend a call to Mr. 
John Mitchell to settle as pastor. He declined. 

April 26, 1831. Society voted unanimously, 103 votes 
cast, to extend a call to Mr. Theophilus Smith to settle with 
us as pastor. Mr. Smith declined. 

Nov. 15, 1831. The Society's Committee were instructed 
"to procure two suitable stoves and set them in the meet- 
ing-house." This was the first attempt of the Church and 
Society to warm the house. 

January 23, 1832. The society voted to extend a call to 
Mr. Joseph Eldridge, Jr., to settle with us as our minister 
at an annual salary of |650. Mr. Eldridge accepted the 
call, and April 24, 1832, a contract was entered into be- 
tween the Society, by their Committee, consisting of Au- 
gustus Pettibone, Benjamin Welch, Jr., and Darius Phelps 
for the Society, and Mr. Eldridge, to settle at an annual 
Salary of |650, and upon the next day, April 25th, he was 
ordained and installed,— thus commencing a most success- 



164 HISTORY OF XORFOLK. 

ful pastorate which continued for more than forty-two 
years; Dr. Eldridge tendering his resignation on account 
of age and impaired health, which resignation was reluc- 
tantly and most sorrowfully accepted by the Church and 
Society, taking effect November 1st, 1874. 

February 10, 1834. "The Society's Committee were au- 
thorized to take up the pews in the lower part of the house 
and in the galleries and make slips in their place, pro- 
vided the expense shall not exceed |200." For some reason 
this change was not made until twelve years later, this 
vote having been rescinded at a meeting in the following 
November. 

Mr. Ephraim Coy, who died in 1834, by his will be- 
queathed to the Ecclesiastical Society's fund at the death 
of Mrs. Coy, the farm and hotel on Beech Flats, which has 
for many years been known as the Bigelow place, Mrs. Coy 
to have the use of the farm during her natural life. At a 
meeting of the society November, 1836, it appearing that 
it was Mrs. Coy's desire that the farm should be sold, War- 
ren Cone, Lawrence Mills and Luther Butler were ap- 
pointed a Committee and given full power to act for the 
Society in making sale and conveyance of the farm and an 
equitable settlement with Mrs. Coy. 

It was nearly two years before the matter was finally 
adjusted, — the farm having meantime, in 1837, been deeded 
to Edmund Curtiss Bradley, by the Committee of the so- 
ciety and Mrs. Coy. This bequest added to the Society's 
Fund in 1844, as appears, |4,821. 

In 1838 blinds were put upon the windows of the meet- 
ing-house, and soon after an insurance of |4,000 was placed 
upon the house. 

In 1842 a committee was authorized to build a chimney 
in the N. W. and the S. W. corners of the house, ''for the 
purpose of placing the stove pipes," and in 1845 "a com- 
mittee was instructed to take proper measures to prevent 
the smoke from issuing from the stoves in the meeting- 
house." 

March 30, 1846, the pastor, Rev. Joseph Eldridge, made 



HISTORY OF XORFOLK. 165 

a statement to the Society's meeting of the proposal of 
Mr. Charles Thompson of New Haven for altering the 
house. His plan was approved and adopted, as was also 
a method for raising the money necessary "by subscription 
according to each man's proportion on the grand levy." 
Michael F. Mills, Esq., who alone superintended the build- 
ing of the meeting-house in 1814, Rev. Joseph Eldridge and 
Dea. Amos Pettibone were the committee to superintend 
the repairs. The alterations upon the interior of the house 
during this summer of 1846 were quite extensive, embrac- 
ing the removal of the remaining old square box pews from 
a part of the lower part of the house and of the gallery. 
(Part of the occupants of these pews sat necessarily with 
their backs to the minister.) The arch in the audience 
room of the house was at this time closed, but has since 
been restored, much as it was when the house was first 
built. The pulpit windows and other windows in the west 
end of the church were at this time closed up. During 
the four months or more of these repairs service upon the 
Sabbath was held in the Academy, as the writer remem- 
bers, the congregation sitting in the school-rooms as they 
were then in both the first and second stories of the build- 
ing, and the minister standing upon a little platform upon 
the stairs, having a shelf in front of him for the Bible an^ 
his manuscript, — the speaker being unable to see the face 
of a single one of his hearers, or they to see him. Up to 
this time cushions for the seats in the church had never 
been provided except in a few individual cases, and now 
the good women of the church under the direction of Mrs. 
Battell worked for several weeks preparing corn-husks and 
making cushions for the seats below, and the choir in the 
gallery; the society in October of that year voting |100 "to 
purchase carpets and Marine cloth for cushions," and in 
November "|50 for cushions and similar expenses." The 
society also "authorized and directed the purchase of a 
furnace and apparatus built on the most approved plan 
to warm the meeting-house;" and still for a long period 
of years from this time the house was warmed by wood 



166 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Btoves standing on either side of the centre doors, with 
pipes running under the galleries to the west end of the 
house, and many still recall the crackling of hemlock wood 
which was sometimes used. Upon the dedicatory Sab- 
bath, in addition to many other appropriate words, Mr. 
Eldridge expressed the ''hope that this thoroughly reno- 
vated house of worship will not be marred by the use of 
knives, pencils, and the filthiest of all weeds." 

November, 1849. The society "appropriated |150 toward 
purchasing a new clock, provided the town or individuals 
will raise f50 more for said purpose, — the esimated cost." 

October, 1851. Authorized the committee to pay |500 
to purchase a new organ. 

November, 1852. ''The thanks of the society were voted 
to Mr. Joseph Battell for his liberality in giving |200 
toward the purchase of our organ, which cost |700." Voted, 
"that we consider it desirable that the congregation rise 
during the singing of the choir." This was the beginning 
in this town of the congregation standing during the sing- 
ing of the hymns. In early days it was the custom for all 
to stand during prayer. 

April 27, 1853. The following vote was unanimously 
passed at a meeting of the society: 

"Whereas, the Rev. Joseph Eldridge has requested the 
consent of the society that he may be absent from the so- 
ciety five or six months for the purpose of visiting Europe, 
etc., resolved by this society that we cheerfully grant his 
request; and that his salary be continued during his ab- 
sence; and the society will take upon themselves the re- 
sponsibility of supplying the pulpit during his absence." 

Accordingly Mr. Eldridge started for Europe early in 
May, 1853, Mrs. Eldridge accompanying him to New York, 
expecting to take the N. Y. & N. H. train for home the fol- 
lowing morning . Most fortunately, providentially cer- 
tainly, Mrs. Eldridge decided to remain another day in 
New York with her sister, Mrs. Urania Humphrey, instead 
of taking the train for home with her aunt and cousin from 
Lenox, Mass., Mrs. and Miss Robbins, the wife and daugh- 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 167 

ter of James Robbins, as she had fully expected to 
do. That proved to be the ill-fated train that ran into an 
open draw-bridge at Norwalk, — several of the cars plung- 
ing into the water, — a very large number of passengers 
being drowned, Mrs, Eldridge's friends, whose companion 
she fully intended to have been, being among those 
drowned. 

This was many years before there was an Atlantic cable. 
Nearly a week after Mr. Eldridge landed safely in Eng- 
land, the next steamer arrived there bringing news of the 
terrible disaster at Norwalk, — the news being published by 
the evening papers in London. Mr. Eldridge upon reading 
the account of the accident, the names of those killed not 
being given, believed that without a doubt Mrs. Eldridge 
was one of the victims, and the suspense, the agony, in 
which he was held for that long, terrible night, as, accord- 
ing to his own words later, he walked the floor of his room 
and walked the streets, may be imagined but cannot be 
described. His letters were to be sent to a certain bank, 
and ascertaining the residence of the banker he called 
there at as early an hour in the morning as seemed proper, 
and was told that the gentleman was not yet up, but the 
banker hastened a little, and reached the bank a little 
earlier than usual. The relief, the joy, the gratitude which 
Mr. Eldridge felt upon learning by his letters that Mrs. 
Eldridge reached home safely, having been providentially 
prevented by what seemed a trifling thing from taking 
the fatal train, may possibly be imagined. 

During the months of his absence the pulpit was sup- 
plied by Rev. Mr. Blodgett, a young man not long out of 
the Seminary, and who a few years later went out to China 
as a Missionary, Rev. Mr. Russell afterwards settled in 
Colebrook, and Rev. Wm, E. Bassett, who later married 
Miss Mary Dowd of this town, and was settled in Warren. 

In Nov. 1854 Mr. Eldridge's salary was raised by the So- 
ciety to 1800, and in 1858 to |1,000 a year. 

Nov. 5, 1866. The Ecclesiastical Society at its annual 
meeting "Voted to increase the Salary of Rev. Joseph 
Eldridge to |],500 per aunnm from this date. 



168 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Some weeks later the following communication was re- 
ceived : — 

"To the Congregational Ecclesiastical Society in Norfolk: 

"The Congregational Ecclesiastical Society has dealt very hon- 
orably with the present pastor in respect to salary during the whole 
of his long ministry. The salary has always been promptly and 
fully paid on the very day on which it became due. In the begin- 
ning it was six hundred and fifty dollars. The society has from 
time to time, without any request or intimation, direct, or indirect, 
from the pastor, spontaneously increased the amount. At its last 
annual meeting it voted to add to it five hundred dollars, thus 
raising it to fifteen hundred. As times now are, I believe this sum 
would be needed by a minister wholly dependent on his salary for 
support in order that he might live as you desire to have your 
pastor live. It evinced an honorable sense of justice on your part 
to vote to give me what you would expect to give any one else. I 
am proud of your action, and heartily grateful for it, yet I re- 
spectfully decline three hundred dollars of the proposed addition. 

Owing to the great fluctuation in business affairs for the past 
ten or fifteen years, many of my friends and friends of the society 
have sustained serious losses. Then the great war through which 
we have recently passed made a great draft upon our pecuniary 
resources during its continuance, and left at its close a vast debt 
which necessitates increased taxation. Revolving these things in 
my mind, I can accept only two hundred dollars of the five which 
you voted to add to my salary. Earnestly desiring the best good 
of the parish and of the entire community in matters temporal and 
spiritual, I remain. 

Your obedient friend and Pastor, 

JOSEPH ELDRIDGE. 
Norfolk, Jany. 11, 1867." 

At a special meeting of the Society Sept. 9, 1874, the sub- 
ject for the consideration of the meeting was to take action 
upon the resignation of his pastoral charge by Rev. Dr. 
Joseph Eldridge. 

''Voted to appoint a Committee of five to confer with Rev. 
Dr. Joseph Eldridge, to express the regret of the Society 
for the action he had taken in resigning his pastoral 
charge and that he be requested to withdraw the same. 
Committee consisted of F. E. Porter, Hiram P. Lawrence, 
James Humphrey, S. D. Northway, John A. Shepard. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 169 

Special meeting Sept. 20, 1874. Committee appointed 
to confer with Kev. Dr. Joseph Eldridge reported that he 
refused to withdraw his resignation as pastor of this 
church and people. The following preamble and resolu- 
tion were presented and unanimously adopted: 

Whereas our pastor. Rev. Dr. Joseph Eldridge, has ten- 
dered the resignation of his pastoral charge and does not 
consent to withdraw it and continue to occupy the posi- 
tion he has so long and so usefully filled — Therefore, Re- 
solved that we the Congregational Church and Society of 
Norfolk, remembering the many years of arduous and 
faithful labor so cheerfully done and so abundantly blessed 
of God to the welfare of this people, and by which he has 
become very dear to us all, as pastor, teacher and friend, 
regretfully accept his resignation and consent to the sev- 
erance of the ties which have so long and so happily bound 
us together as pastor and people; feeling and knowing that 
the formal dissolution of the bond will not abate the love 
we have toward him as a faithful Guide and Counsellor, 
nor lessen his interest in us as a church and people." (Some 
record of Dr. Eldridge's dismission, his farewell sermon, 
etc., will be found elsewhere.) 



XII. 

SKETCH OF REV. RALPH EMERSON, D. D. 

(FKOM a DISCOUKSE DELn-ERED AT HIS FlNERAI- MAY 22, 1863. AT ROCKFOKD, Il.L.) 

By Prof. Joseph Haven, D.D. 

"Ralph Emerson was born in Hollis, New Hampshire, 
August 18, 1787. His ancestry for several generations was 
of note for piety and worth. His grandfather was the first 
minister of the place. His father was deacon of the church, 
a magistrate and leading citizen in Hollis, a man of ac- 
tivity, energy and decision of character, of commanding 



170 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

influence and forward in every good work. He was an 
officer in the Revolutionary army. His mother died while 
he was yet young, and in some reminiscences of his early 
life, he speaks of her as a woman of much refinement and 
delicacy of taste. The characteristic traits of either parent 
may readily be traced in the son. As the lad grew up, 
his activity and energy rendered him of efficient service 
to his father, and as two older brothers had already re- 
ceived a liberal education, and it was the intention of the 
father to educate also the younger brother, it was felt 
that Ralph could not be spared from the farm. To the 
simple duties and activities of the farm life accordingly, 
he devoted himself with earnestness and delight, and thus 
continued until the age of nineteen, acquiring in those 
years a fondness for agricultural pursuits which never 
forsook him, and a strength of constitution and manliness 
of character invaluable in after life. 

The desire for a college education, however, increased 
with his advancing years. The restless thirst for knowl- 
edge burned within him, and when at the age of nineteen 
he received his parents', permission to prepare for college, 
he entered upon the studies of the preparatory course with 
an earnestness and ardor which overcame all obstacles, 
and the next year, 1807, at the age of twenty, he entered 
Yale College, then under the presidency of Dr. Dwight. 
During his freshman year in College, while at home in the 
winter vacation he made a profession of religion, connect- 
ing himself with the church in his native place, February, 
1808. 

In the class Emerson took foremost rank as a scholar 
and as a man of influence. He graduated in 1811 with the 
highest honors of his class. He notices this event in the 
record of college life as follows: 'May 8. Our appoint- 
ments came out this morning. I find my name at the head 
of them. This is what I little expected, though I confess 
it is what I have pretty strongly desired, but it is nothing 
that can give me lasting enjoyment.' On leaving college 
Mr. Emerson entered the Theological Seminary at Andover, 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 171 

where after the three years' course he graduated in 1814. 
After preaching for a little time in Portsmouth, N. H., he 
went as tutor to New Haven, where he remained for two 
years, and then settled in the ministry in Norfolk, Gt., in 
June, 1816." 

Rev. Mr. Bobbins, the first minister here, died in Octo- 
ber, 1813, and several candidates for the vacant place oc- 
cupied the pulpit for different periods until June, 1815, 
when the church unanimously called Mr. Emerson, and 
waited for a year for him, to carry out an engagement as 
Tutor in Yale College, before he was ordained and installed. 

FROM THE CHURCH RECORD. 

June 23, 1815. Voted unanimously to give Mr. Ralph 
Emerson a call to settle with us in the work of the gospel 
ministry, and to take the pastoral charge of the church. 

''Voted that Eleazer Holt, Esq., Dea. David Frisbie and 
Mr. Joseph Jones be a committee to communicate the pre- 
ceding vote to Mr. Emerson, and to take such measures 
as may be thought necessary to carry the same into effect. 

March 5, 1816. At a meeting of the church warned for 
the special purpose of giving Mr. Ralph Emerson a call, 
Dea. David Frisbie was chosen moderator, the vote above, 
taken June 23, 1815, was again passed unanimously. 

Mr. Emerson afterward recorded the following: "(Note. 
It may not be improper for me to explain the reason of 
the repetition of the above vote. At the time of receiving 
my call I was acting as a tutor in Yale College and could 
not be released from my engagement the previous year. 
I was here only in two or three vacations, and as much 
time had elapsed and the other ministers had in the mean- 
time been employed, it was thought advisable to see if the 
church still desired me to accept their former call. R. E.)" 

From Church Record: 

June 12, 1816. "I was ordained as pastor of this church 
by the North Consociation of Litchfield County. The ser- 
mon on the occasion was preached by Rev. Lyman Beecher 
of Litchfield; consecrating prayer by Rev. Alexander Gil- 



172 HISTORY OF XORFOLK. 

lett of Torrington; right hand of fellowship by Rev. Chaun- 
cey Lee of Colebrook; charge by Rev. Peter Starr of War- 
ren ; address to the people by Rev. James Beach of Winsted. 
It was a most solemn day to me, and may God give me 
grace to fulfill my vows and to meet the reasonable expec- 
tations of this church and people and to glorify his holy 

name." 

RALPH EMERSON. 

Although more than three score and ten years have 
passed since Mr. Emerson's ministry in this town closed, 
his name, his memory, and his w^ork still live, and a few 
remain who remember him distinctly, and love to recall 
his ministry here. 

We cannot do better than to quote again from Dr. 
Haven's address: ''Few ministers probably have ever been 
more successful in it. No one perhaps ever had more fully 
the confidence, esteem and affection of his people. Scat- 
tered through the land were very many who in early life 
enjoyed his ministry and grew up under it, and who bore 
testimony to the high regard in which Mr. Emerson was 
held, not only by his own people, but widely through the 
churches of Connecticut. As a pastor he greatly excelled. 
To none of his flock was he a stranger. At the bedside of 
the sick he was ever a welcome visitor, and if anyone was 
in sorrow or trouble, he was sure to find in him the counsel 
and wisdom that were needed. It was his custom to visit 
much among his people, devoting certain days to given 
neighborhoods, and in connection with these pastoral visits 
neighborhood meetings were held in remote parts of the 
town. As a preacher his pulpit discourses were plain, 
earnest, forcible presentations of the great essential truths 
of the Gospel; practical rather than imaginative, yet by 
no means lacking in rhetorical power. ... No subject 
connected with morality or religion escaped his earnest 
attention. He was one of the first to embark in the tem- 
perance cause, and to advocate the principle of total ab- 
stinence, both in public and private. The Sabbath move- 
ment received his early attention, and by his individual in- 



HISTOKY OF NORFOLK. 173 

fluence and efforts, at the cost of personal popularity, he 
succeeded in so far enforcing the laws as to prevent the 
running of the stage on the Sabbath on the great route 
from Hartford to Albany." 

In a letter written to one of his former parishioners, he 
thus speaks of his ministry in Norfolk: "The years I spent 
in Norfolk I regard in the retrospect as among the most 
eventful, laborious, joyful, and yet trying of my whole life. 
I still think of them frequently, but not so often as before 
the departure of so large a proportion of my respected and 
endeared friends there and in the neighboring towns. . . . 
No doubt the forests, the orchards, the gardens, the mead- 
ows smile as gaily in their vernal attire, and the scenery 
is just as diversified and romantic as when I first beheld 
it in those stern winter days of my earliest visit, when 
the rocks and hills, and hemlock woods, and narrow passes, 
and that strange, conical mountain were all so new to me." 

There could be no stronger evidence of Mr. Emerson's 
efficiency and success as a pastor and preacher here, and 
of the hold which he had upon the hearts and minds of the 
people, than the fact that during the 13 years of his min- 
istry 257 were added to the church, and at the close of his 
labors in this town the church had 350 members. 

In the early summer of 1828 he was invited to the Presi- 
dency of Western Reserve College at Hudson, Ohio, but 
the church and the entire community most earnestly and 
vigorously opposed his leaving, and even after an officer 
of the College was sent here to urge the people to consent 
to his acceptance of the call, it was to no purpose. 

Mr. Emerson continued for another year most faithfully 
and cheerfully in his work. 

In the fall of 1829 he received an appointment to the 
Professorship of Ecclesiastical History and Pastoral The- 
ology in Andover Theological Seminary, which he felt it 
his duty to accept. It was with the greatest difficulty that 
this people could be persuaded to consent to his removal. 

The following resignation of Dr. Emerson is copied from 
the original, in his own hand writing, found among Dr. 
Eldridge's manuscripts: 



174 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

"To the beloved church and people of my charge:— 

"You are all acquainted with the fact that I have received an in- 
vitation to become one of the teachers in the Theological Seminary 
at Andover, Mass. After prayerful deliberation, and seeking the 
advice of candid and judicious men, I have thought it my duty to 
accept the appointment, providing my present relation to you shall 
be dissolved. And while my personal attachments remain as ex- 
pressed on a similar occasion a year ago, I now feel it incumbent 
on me to request your consent and co-operation in calling a council 
for the purpose of judging on the question, and of dissolving this 
relation if they shall think such a measure conducive to the general 
interests of Christ's kingdom." 

RALPH EMERSON. 
"Norfolk, October 18, 1829." 

So strongly were they attached to him, and so earnest and 
decided their opposition to his dismissal, that the Conso- 
ciation to whom the matter was at first referred did not 
feel at liberty to act in opposition to the remonstrances 
of the people; and it was not till the trustees at Andover 
had renewed their call and sent one of their number, Hon, 
W. B, Banister, to urge its acceptance, and after a calm 
and careful but decided statement of his own wish, and 
of the reasons which made the step imperative to his own 
mind had been presented from the pulpit to the people, 
that they consented to the measures necessary to his dis- 
missal." Roys, Norfolk's Historian, a contemporary of Dr. 
Emerson, devotes one tenth of his entire history to giving 
a detailed account of the efforts made to retain him in this 
pastorate, and some of his old warm friends never felt 
quite reconciled to his removal, and would sometimes say, 
"Mr. Emerson ought to have staid here." 

During his pastorate in Norfolk he married Miss Bock- 
well, of Colebrook. 

"Having filled with honor and usefulness the Professor- 
ship in the Seminary at Andover for twenty-fiVe years, he 
resigned it in 1854, and for five years resided in Newbury- 
port, Mass, passing his time most pleasantly in the retire- 
ment of the family, busied with literary pursuits, inter- 
spersed with frequent labors in the pulpit, and not unfre- 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 175 

quently writing upon the current themes of the day. . . . 
In 1859 Dr. Emerson removed with his familj^ to Rock- 
ford, 111., where he continued to live and where he closed 
his days May 20, 1863. 

Several of his children had already preceded him to the 
Western States, and he came that he might be near and 
with them. Here in the peaceful retirement of a home 
rendered happy by the society of loved ones, amid books 
and friends, honored by all, loving and loved by all, he 
passed the quiet evening of his days, maintaining that 
*otium cum dignitate,' to which the ancient Roman aspired; 
and above all, sustained and soothed by that Christian 
faith which, better than all philosophy and all learning, 
can throw a mellow radiance over the pathway of declin- 
ing age. 

"With what interest he entered into all measures looking 
to the public good, and especially to the progress of the 
Redeemer's kingdom, and with what intensity of feeling 
he watched the rise and progress of the great struggle that 
is now (1863) convulsing our land. You remember his 
prayers for his country and her defenders on the Sabbath 
and on all public occasions. With what earnestness and 
burning eloquence he addressed the first company of vol- 
unteers in this place on the eve of their departure. Allud- 
ing afterward to this address in a letter to a friend he de- 
clares that he longed then and there to say that he would 
go with them as their chaplain, but was restrained by the 
fear that, for one of his age and infirmities thus to ofifer 
himself, might seem almost like a farce. 'I do enter into 
this war,' he says, 'and have from the first entered into it 
with all my heart and soul; and body, too, I should be able 
to add, were it not that a man of three score and fifteen 
would be only a burden in the camp. The rebellion as I 
still believe is the wickedest ever raised against any power 
since Satan rebelled in heaven, and against the best gov- 
ernment except that of God himself.' ... It was his 
most ardent desire to live to witness the close of the war. 
and, as he doubted not, the ultimate triumph of freedom 
and right. 



176 HISTOEY OF NOEFOLK. 

In a letter written a few months before his death he 
says, 'I must confess that I never so intensely enjoyed the 
scenes of thickly coming and checkered events unutterably 
deplorable as have been many of them. I always see the 
silver lining to even the darkest cloud, and often the golden 
splendors of universal freedom beyond. . . . How in- 
tensely I desire to live to see the end of this Luciferian 
rebellion, and with it the deadly blow to slavery.' . , . 
I mention these things the more readily from the circum- 
stance that Dr. Emerson looked with much distrust upon 
the earlier movements of the Abolitionists, technically so 
called, in this country as calculated to retard the progress 
of emancipation and sow the seeds of civil strife, an opinion 
in which many of the wisest and best men of the country 
fully concurred. At the same time no one was ever more 
thoroughly opposed in principle to slavery, or more ear- 
nestly desired its overthrow by all wise and practicable 
means. . . . His health which had been gradually failing, 
became about the last of April much more seriously 
impaired. Medical aid and skill were ineffectual to stay the 
progress of disease. He retained, however, clear possession 
of all his faculties, and maintained habitual cheerfulness 
and composure, frequently speaking of his approaching end 
and calmly trusting and reposing his weary soul on the arm 
of his Redeemer. The cheerfulness and kindness which had 
distinguished his whole life filled his chamber of languish- 
ing and pain. Every hour bore quiet but glowing witness to 
the truth that in his case the promise, ''Thou wilt keep him 
in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee" was "re- 
markably fulfilled." 

On Wednesday, May 20, 1863, about seven o'clock P. M., 
he fell asleep. Not more calmly and peacefully did the sun, 
which was then setting, go down in the glowing west than 
faded the light from that eye as the spirit took its departure 
for the land where there is no more night." 

" So fades a summer cloud away ; 
So sinks the gale when storms are o'er ; 
So gently shuts the eye of day ; 
So dies a wave along the shore." 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 177 

After the funeral the remains were taken to Beloit, Wis- 
consin, for interment, he having chosen this as the place of 
his burial. 



XIII. 



SKETCH OF MRS. Z. P. GRANT BAKISTER. 

Norfolk has been honored by a large number of her sons 
and daughters who have done noble work, have become dis- 
tinguished and eminent in a great variety of callings and 
professions. Some of these, her distinguished children, 
have found their life work here, on their native soil, while 
others have found their places in different parts, some in 
distant parts of the country, and in their adopted homes 
have attained distinction and thus honored their native 
town. Of the many noble women i\ ho were born and spent 
their early lives here, some of whom have become distin- 
guished, the one who, in the opinion of the writer, takes 
the first place, considering what were her early environ- 
ments, her advantages and hindrances, the obstacles against 
which she had to contend, poverty, long continued sickness 
in early life, poor health for a large part of her life, — then 
considering w^hat she accomplished in the line of higher 
education for women, the distinction she attained, and the 
very high regard in which she was held by some of the most 
eminent persons of her day and time, — that place the writer 
would accord to Zilpah Polly Grant, later Mrs. Banister. 

Let me recommend to the young people of my native 
town, — those who are young today, and those who will be 
young people when I am forgotten, — to read "The Use of a 
Life" (by L. T. Guilford, Cleveland, 1885), found in our 
library. (It is the life of Mrs. Banister.) From that book 
largely the following sketch is gleaned: 

Zilpah Polly (unromantic name surely), youngest child of 
Joel and Zilpah Cowles-Grant, was born May 30, 1794, near 



178 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Grantville in this town, upon what has been known as the 
Beckley farm for more than half a century. Her father 
was instantly killed before she was two years old, as is 
recorded upon his tomb-stone in the old South End Ceme- 
tery, ''by the fall of the well-sweep in his own yard in the 
memorable storm of March 16, 1796." Her mother was 
thus left on a farm, the sole support and protector of four 
children, the oldest not fourteen years of age; and from this 
terrible shock she never recovered. Her mind was at length 
somewhat affected, and years afterward she took her own 
life. Joel Grant is mentioned as a thrifty farmer, a power- 
ful man, of strong muscle and brain, remembered with 
warm affection and reverence as long as any lived who 
knew him. His wife is said to have been naturally a rare 
woman, reserved of speech, her mind full from the pages of 
Holy Writ; 'her lips brimming with sacred hymns and lov- 
ing kindness.' It was said by her children that "she could 
repeat the whole of Dwight's Collection of Hymns. When 
spinning she had always an open book at the head of her 
wheel, and at other work she would have a book near, where 
she could be reading or committing to memory something 
of value while her hands were at work." 

This home was a low, square, one-story building, with a 
kitchen, two bedrooms, a parlor and an entry. It stood a 
few rods west of the present Beckley barns. The school- 
house where Zilpah attended school and acquired her early 
education was only "a stone's throw" from her home. Like 
most school-houses of that time it was a low, rough, un- 
painted building, long desks at the sides of the room, the 
higher benches placed behind and the lower ones in front; 
a fireplace, a table, and a chair with a teacher in it was all 
the preparation and outfit. Blackboard, globe or wall- 
maps were things unheard of. Reading and spelling, gram- 
mar and geography were taught in classes. Daboll's and 
Pike's were the arithmetics used. Many (the bright ones) 
finished their arithmetic without recitation or assistance; 
the lame mathematicians had help. Spelling was the fa- 
vorite exercise, and frequently the scholars gathered from 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 179 

the whole district in the evening at the school-house to 
spell, a spelling match being an interesting and exciting 
event. 

Mentally quick, strong of apprehension, and equally 
ready and retentive of memory, Zilpah Grant made rapid 
progress. Her mind eagerly absorbed all the knowledge 
within its reach, and the love of teaching awoke. Before 
she was fifteen years old, in 1809, in the district then and 
since called 'Paug,' not very far from her home, she began 
her life mission. The log cabin where she first taught had 
one door, four small, half-sash windows, and an unhewn 
stone chimney. With an equal love of learning and teach- 
ing her first experiment fixed her career. She could not 
bear that a pupil of hers should not advance. In the sum- 
mer of 1810 she taught again in the school cabin at Paug, 
and the next two summers in Winchester, where the Rev. 
Frederick Marsh was pastor. The winters of these years 
were spent in the home with her mother, sharing with her 
the toil for their support, and reading such books as they 
could obtain, while spinning the warp and filling for many 
a piece of flannel, — the daughter at intervals going abroad 
to spin. 

She had at this time developed into young womanhood. 
Her figure was tall, erect and well proportioned; her fore- 
head high, and the pronounced features comely, with an 
expression of kindness, dignity and power; piercing black 
eyes, luminous with life, a stately carriage and tasteful, 
lady-like dress, made her a marked person at that age, as 
ever after. 

Her religious experience when she was eighteen years old 
was very deep and powerful. As she wrote years later, 
"I was on the borders of despair, expecting to sink by the 
weight of my own sin to perdition, feeling that my guilt in 
not acknowledging God, in rejecting Christ, and in quench- 
ing the Spirit, was too great to be forgiven." Under the 
kindly ministry of Rev. Mr. Marsh of Winchester, whom 
she sought in her distress, she was led into the light, be- 
came very happy, and continued through life a most earnest 



180 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Christian worker. On the last Sabbath in February, 1813, 
she with her mother, in the church in Norfolk, took the 
vows of a Christian profession. The pastor, Mr. Robbins, 
was too feeble to have anything added to the services of 
the regular communion. It was almost the last of his pub- 
lic ministrations. Miss Grant taught the next three years 
either in Norfolk or Winchester. In the summer of 1815 
she taught school in North Goshen. 

In the winter of 1816 she taught the school in Winches- 
ter. In April of that year "she was seized with pain in her 
right side, but did not leave her post till July, when a more 
violent attack forced her to go home, where she lay for 
some time dangerously ill with pleurisy. The pain did not 
leave her for three years, and she became diseased all 
through. She underwent the severe medical treatment of 
the time; great blisters were kept for weeks on the aching 
side, and doses of mercury produced 'salivation,' then sup- 
posed to be beneficial. She wasted away to a shadow and 
^vas told that she must die. She afterwards wrote: "For 
two years I looked into eternity; I had no desire to live; I 
could not pray for life." For many long months she was 
waiting for the summons to the spirit land, feeling neither 
regret nor fear. 

Slowly the vital energy gathered itself. She at length 
rose from her bed and looked out again upon the world, but 
in the fifty-eight years that remained to her of life she never 
knew another day of real health. Again and again she was 
brought into the shadow of death, and in the full success of 
her career she was forced to give up the work for which 
she was eminently fitted." 

In the first summer of her illness Rev. Ralph Emerson 
was settled as pastor over the church in Norfolk. His 
brother, Rev. Joseph Emerson, was present at his ordina- 
tion, remained in town several weeks, being an invalid, and 
assembled every day a class of young ladies for profitable 
reading, and would have had sympathy with the sick one 
had he known how she had thirsted for truth, but at this 
time there was no communication between them. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 181 

During her convalescence, two years later, she read his 
work on the "Millennium," which awakened her interest in 
life, and she "longed to do something for God." Not long 
after, a young man going out as a missionary to a foreign 
field asked her to accompany him. A long, severe struggle 
ended in a negative decision. Between Miss Grant and her 
pastor, Rev. Ralph Emerson, a mutual esteem and friend- 
ship sprang up, pleasant and valuable to both. 

In the winter of 1819 she was able again to take up teach- 
ing, and probably taught in the Loon Meadow district in 
Norfolk. For one term she attended a select school taught 
by Mrs. Reeder in the old Conference room. During that 
winter a class of young people, under the guidance of their 
pastor (Rev. Mr. Emerson), studied Grammar, History and 
English Literature, and Miss Grant's work in the school- 
room did not prevent her being the leading spirit among 
them. 

Rev. Joseph Emerson, her pastor's brother, an ex-tutor of 
Harvard College, and an ex-pastor, a zealous pioneer and 
originator of a plan to furnish women an opportunity for 
a higher education than they had ever received, had in the 
northeast corner of Massachusetts, at Byefield, opened the 
new "Female Seminary." 

It is difficult for us to go back eighty years and under- 
stand the novelty of this institution. Then there were no 
Protestant female seminaries or high schools in existence. 
The college education, craved for the sons, was undreamed 
of for the daughters, and except in isolated instances no 
literary attainments were within the reach of young women 
beyond the ability to teach a summer district school. 

A prospectus of Mr. Emerson's school was placed in Miss 
Grant's hands, doubtless by her pastor, and upon it she 
pondered. Her mother had married; she was alone. Her 
mind cried out, as it were, in its hunger for food. Knowl- 
edge meant more power for good, but how was she to gain 
it? She made kjiown her wishes to her God, at the mercy 
seat. Her pastor sympathized fully with her in her feel- 
ings and efforts, and her longing for the distant, newly 



182 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

opened fountain of knowledge. It was strange then that 
a woman twenty-five years old should wish to know more 
than she already knew, and that one so old should wish to 
go away to school was an unheard of thing. 

She committed her way unto the Lord, and laid open her 
whole heart to her mother, who simply did not oppose her. 
She must get her oldest brother's approval, and she studied 
thoroughly on how to present her case to him. Resembling 
her in the natural constitution of his mind, he entered 
kindly into her plans for self-improvement, and had he been 
able would gladly have helped her, and saved her the strug- 
gles of the few following years. 

All obstacles having been removed, in April, 1820, tak;ing 
her whole fortune of |50, Miss Grant set out on the three 
days' journey for the Female Seminary at Byefleld. She 
had once seen Mr. Emerson, and took a line to him from her 
pastor. *'He received her into his family, and she, as it 
were, spread her wings in the new atmosphere." Another 
of Mr. Emerson's pupils, who became the life long friend 
and co-laborer of Miss Grant, was Miss Mary Lyon, after- 
ward the founder of Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. 
November, 1820, was the close of Miss Grant's term as a 
pupil. 

Mr. Emerson was at this time preparing for Sabbath 
Schools an "Outline of Questions on Scripture History," — 
the first of that class of publications ever written, — and 
knowing Miss Grant's familiarity with the Bible he sought 
her assistance; so, instead of returning to her home in Nor- 
folk, as she had expected, she decided to remain in Byefleld 
for another year, teaching certain classes, aiding in prepar- 
ing the Union Catechism for the press, and reading under 
Mr. Emerson's direction. This second year with Mr. Emer- 
son was a most important and profitable one to Miss Grant. 
In the spring of that year, 1821, Miss Mary Lyon first ap- 
peared in the school, and so their acquaintance first began 
with Miss Grant as her teacher. In a letter to her mother 
at that time, Miss Lyon wrote: — "In one of our Saturday 
evening prayer meetings Miss Grant expressed her views in 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 183 

a most affecting manner; the solemnity, affection and ten- 
der solicitude with which she addressed us made a deep 
impression on every mind." The dignity, spiritual eleva- 
tion of character and sympathy with every struggling soul 
which Miss Grant manifested awakened Miss Lyon's affec- 
tionate reverence; nor did the vast capabilities for use- 
fulness that yet lay almost latent in the future founder of 
Mount Holyoke Seminary, escape the keen eye and appreci- 
ation of her teacher. Neither then knew the far-reaching- 
purpose in the divine plan which brought them at the same 
time under the influence of such a teacher as Mr. Emerson. 

In November, 1821, Miss Grant returned to her native 
home, although Mr. Emerson urged her to remain longer 
with him, but her desire was to teach and work in her 
native state. She opened a select school in Winsted for 
young ladies, in a single room of a private dwelling-house, 
upon her return home, where she taught until the spring of 
1823. 

Mr. Emerson meantime had removed his ladies' seminary 
to Saugus, a retired village a few miles northeast from 
Boston, and from there he persistently urged her to be- 
come his assistant. In an appeal to her he wrote: — "I wish 
for your assistance both summer and winter. You have 
done more than any other young lady to raise my seminary. 
My pupils are prepared to receive you with respect, with 
affection and with the utmost confidence. I desire your aid 
not only in teaching my pupils, but in attempting to in- 
struct the public. It is my decided opinion that you and I 
can do much more towards effecting a reformation by 
united than by separate exertion, in the extremely inju- 
dicious, superficial, defective, atheistic methods of teach- 
ing in common use." 

In the spring of 1823 Miss Grant closed her school in 
Winsted and went to be Mr, Emerson's assistant at Saugus, 
Mass., where she "was busy fourteen hours out of the 
twenty-four, every day in the week." 

About this time a Mr. Adams of Derry, New Hampshire, 
made a liberal bequest for the founding and support of a 



184 HIST0K5L OF NORFOLK. 

Female Academy at that place. The building was 
erected during the summer of 1823, and the trustees, look- 
ing about for a principal, visited Mr. Emerson's Seminary 
at Saugus, satisfied themselves that Miss Grant v^^as the 
one they wanted, and offered her the position. 

During the following winter she spent six weeks in Derry 
judgiag whether she ought to accept the proposition to 
take charge of the new institution. She at length decided 
to accept, and in the winter of 1824 went to Ashfleld to 
discuss the work with Miss Mary Lyon, and asked her to 
become her assistant. The "Adams Female Academy," as 
it was called, was duly incorporated, endowed, empowered 
to confer diplomas, and Zilpah Polly Grant, a native of 
Norfolk, whose early life and struggles to secure an educa- 
tion we have followed somewhat minutely, "was formally 
installed the first head of the first college for women in our 
country, if not in the world." 

The institution was opened the latter part of April, 1824, 
at Derry, New Hampshire, with sixty young ladies, gath- 
ered from the best homes of the region round about. Pol- 
ished and dignified in manner, regarded by her pupils as 
the model of a lady. Miss Grant from the first drew them 
to herself, and with combined intellectual and spiritual 
qualities gained a marvellous influence over all. 

"The abounding health, the cheerful spirits, the vigorous 
faculties of Mary Lyon, her wonderful executive ability 
and her ardent piety, made her to Miss Grant such a helper 
as few have enjoyed. As to their work, they were in perfect 
accord. Then, as long afterward, Miss Lyon was accus- 
tomed to say to Miss Grant, "You plan and I will execute." 
During the winters of 1824, '25 and '26, the vacations at 
Derry, Miss Lyon commenced at Buckland, a town ten 
miles from Greenfield, that succession of schools which 
made her known to the people of her native region as a 
most original and able teacher. The following hard ex- 
perience is proof of Miss Grant's indomitable will power 
and determination to overcome all obstacles and to be de- 
terred bv no hindrances. "In May, 1827, while practising 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 185 

calisthenics with a class, a tendon in the heel was parted 
from its fastening. The suffering was great. For two 
years she moved only on crutches. Unable to stand or sit, 
she kept the business wheels in motion, and the classes 
that for several terms gathered around her couch to recite 
were eager and enthusiastic as ever." 

''It never rains but it pours." While she was suffering 
from her painful disability, at the annual meeting of the 
trustees in November, 1827, it was proposed to have instruc- 
tion in music and dancing introduced into the Academy as 
a part of the course the ensuing year. A minority of the 
trustees strongly urged that no change should be made in 
the administration. Miss Grant wrote at that time: ''I 
opposed dancing on the ground that, as we have a sys- 
tematic course, and all parents would not wish to have 
their children learn to dance, the introduction of this exer- 
cise would greatly derange our plans, and must be an evil, 
and I Anally said that I could not consent to it." The trus- 
tees "regretted that the institution has acquired the char- 
acter of being strictly Calvanistic in the religious instruc- 
tion." 

Early in January, 1828, Miss Grant wrote: "The great 
question is at last decided. My connection with the Adams 
Female Academy is dissolved. I think I have done all that I 
ought to save this beloved seminary from a revolution. 
Should the institution be injured I shall not be responsible. 
. My business, therefore, for some time will be to 
scratch with a goose-quill and inform the public that I am 
disengaged. My health is pretty good, but I am still un- 
able to go without crutches." 

(Two years later these same trustees sought to recall Miss 
Grant "to take charge of and manage the Academy in her 
own way," but she was not then disengaged.) 

After considering several applications she concluded to 
locate at Ipswich, twelve miles from Newburyport, Mass., 
where was a large new academy building. "More than 
forty of her pupils followed Miss Grant to the new loca- 
tion, — a trained and loyal body, enthusiastically devoted to 



186 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

their teacher, imbued with Bible truth and Christian pur- 
pose, they aided her greatly in moulding the whole school 
after that divine pattern which she ever carried in her 
sanctified imagination." 

Miss Lyon, in her new location, became again Miss 
Grant's assistant, continuing during the winter vacation 
her school at Ashfield. It would be of exceeding interest 
to stop and mention the systematic course of English study 
required during the three years, while lessons in drawing, 
painting and vocal music were a part of the regular studies 
and were urged upon all. Miss Grant's skill in teaching 
what she called simply reading would in these days have 
made her distinguished as an elocutionist. The teachers 
whom she called to stand by her side were selected from her 
former pupils, who were inspired with zeal like her own. 

In 1831, three years after she opened her school at 
Ipswich, one hundred and ninety pupils were enrolled (one 
account says the number rose to three hundred), but as 
there were not suitable accommodations for so many, the 
number was reduced by receiving none under the age of 
fourteen, and by limiting the number of boarders. 

For eleven years the number averaged one hundred and 
sixteen, — the daughters of nearly every state in the then 
I'nion. 

The pupils were led to understand that the great object 
in the seminary was not to finish, but to commence an 
education; not to furnish all the knowledge they might 
need, but to show where it might be gained. Pupils of 1829 
and '30 recalled Miss Grant as carried up the steps of the 
academy on a strong man's shoulders day after day, and 
then moving with dignity on her crutches, in consequence 
still of that "severed tendon." 

While Miss Grant was giving herself to her pupils, calls 
to various places were presented to her, so widely had she 
become known. One of the most persistent and difiicult to 
dispose of came from Miss Catherine Beecher, then at the 
head of the ladies' seminary in Hartford, Conn. Miss Grant 
carefullv considered the matter and decided in the nega- 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 187 

tive; but Miss Beecher would not then give her up, but 
induced her distinguished father, Eev. Lyman Beecher, 
D. D., to use all his influence and powers of persuasion to 
induce Miss Grant to join his daughter in Hartford. In one 
of his letters to her Dr. Beecher wrote: — ''I have no doubt 
of the practicability, and I may add the infinite importance 
to the interest of sanctified literature, of such an example as 
Catherine and you would set, and which, being once set, 
is secured for universal use in all future time." With all 
the arguments which this distinguished man could bring 
to induce Miss Grant to unite with his daughter, in a 
lengthy appeal, he said in closing: — "Such a school as you 
have does not depend on location, but could at any time, in 
any suitable place, be called around you again." There 
were conclusive reasons in Miss Grant's mind against unit- 
ing with Miss Beecher, and "the second No was decisive." 

During the year 1831 Miss Grant was forced by illness 
to leave her labors in the seminary at Ipswich, and for a 
year and a half she travelled in the South, aud the school 
went on with its usual efficiency under Miss Lyon, the 
assistant principal. 

Some years later Miss Grant wrote: "It was not till two 
years after the commencement of our operations in Ipswich 
that Miss Lyon felt it a matter of importance and was ready 
to co-operate with me in trying to have our seminary pro- 
cure a lasting home and live to do good when our labors 
should cease. . . . During my absence Miss Lyon re- 
linquished all hope of this being accomplished in our day." 
We cannot follow Miss Grant further minutely, as this 
sketch has already reached great length, and it has been 
recorded in the story of her life, already mentioned, where 
it can be read in full. Dr. Hitchcock, President of Amherst 
College, who edited the first "Life of Mary Lyon," wrote 
after the memoir was complete: "No one can read it with- 
out seeing that her (Miss Grant's) plans and counsels 
formed the foundation and framework of the Holyoke Sem- 
inary; that she, in fact, originated it." 

This was evident to the compilers of the memoir, who had 



188 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

access to all the correspondence, plans for buildings, etc., 
drawn by Miss Grant's own hand. "But they failed so to 
present that influence that it is generally understood .and 
appreciated. The benevolence and self-sacrifice of Miss 
Grant's character were never more beautifully unfolded 
than in her cheerful yielding up material which belonged 
to her own history, to aid in building a monument to her 
friend and co-helper." 

In the summer of 1834 Miss Grant made a journey of 
observation in what was then known as the ''West," — that 
is. Western New York and Eastern Ohio, — and ''she saw 
clearly what few of her generation divined, that the great 
West would soon be the centre of empire, that its evan- 
gelization was the most vital and important work of the 
American church." 

In 1838 Miss Grant's health so gave way that any con- 
tinuous mental effort was followed by indescribable dis- 
tress, and she was assured that her only chance for relief 
was in laying down every burden ; so while seemingly in the 
full tide of success, she bade adieu to her sorrowing schol- 
ars and turned forever away from the place and the work 
that had been to her as the gate of heaven. It was no small 
matter for Miss Grant, now forty-four years old, an invalid 
and without a home, to be obliged to close upon herself 
every avenue to lucrative employment, but she did not fear 
life, death, pain, or poverty, because in all things she saw 
the mind and hand of her God. 

At this juncture of her life she was made at home with 
one of her old pupils, in Dedham, and in this home, on Sep- 
tember 7, 1841, she was married by her former beloved 
pastor at Norfolk, Rev. Professor Ralph Emerson, D. D., 
then of Andover, to Hon. William B. Banister, who had 
been a practising lawyer of Essex County, Mass., a member 
of the Massachusetts Senate, a courteous, dignified. Chris- 
tian gentleman of wealth, and over his mansion in New- 
buryport she was called to preside. There were two daugh- 
ters in the home by a former marriage, who "stepped grace- 
fully aside to give place to the new queen." The home thus 



HISTOKY OF NORFOLK. 189 

constituted seems to have been a most bappy one until Mr. 
Banister's death in 1853. Subsequent to that date, as her 
health and strength would permit, her life was a busy and 
active one, at her home and in travel in different parts of 
the country, in the interest of education for women. 

In 1860, Miss Catherine Beecher wrote to her sister, Mrs. 
H. B. Stowe: "I have had a most charming visit to my dear 
friend, Mrs. Banister. She has been for years my chief 
resort for counsel and sympathy, and to me seems more 
'Christlike' than any earthly friend I ever knew." In Oc- 
tober of 1860 Mrs. Banister crossed the ocean for a year's 
sojourn in Europe. Her husband had previously died. This 
was a year of experience highly prized by her. In February, 
at Havre, she was seized and passed through a violent ill- 
ness; — helpless in a strange land, for three months she did 
not leave her room ; but every attention and the best of care 
was provided for her, and in July following she was so far 
recovered as to be able to make her trip to England, and in 
September to return to her native land. 

Who in Norfolk ever heard or remembers that a 
native of this town had anything to do with the 
founding of Vassar College? Early in 1865 Miss 
Hannah Lyman had been invited to become the lady 
principal of Vassar College, which was to open the 
following September. She was an old pupil of Mrs. 
Banister's, and ever after an intimate friend and corre- 
spondent, and in the difificulties set before the first adminis- 
trators of Vassar College, "Mrs. Banister was consulted in 
every detail of the plans, felt all the anxieties involved, 
watched the steps of her beloved pupil with intense interest 
and fervent prayers, and at Miss Lyman's urgent request 
she passed two weeks at the college within a month of its 
beginning. For more than five and a half years the inter- 
course with Mrs. Banister, which brought her into such 
close relation with this great educational institution, was 
to Miss Lyman most inspiring." 

Her interest in Mount Holyoke Seminary never ceased. 
In May and in September, 1873, she was for the last time 



190 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

the guest of that seminary, when "her talks to the twenty- 
seven teachers and two hundred and seventy-five pupils 
were greatly enjoyed." 

Her intense activity continued until very near the end 
of her life. In September and October of 1874 she was with 
friends in Connecticut, and later in Ipswich. Returning to 
her home in Newburyport, attendance on public Thanks- 
giving services and a visit to an aged woman, once her 
domestic, ended her activities. She passed away December 
3, 1874, aged 80 years and six months. 



XIV. 

By Michael F. Mills, Esq. For Dr. Eldridge. 

centre of the town — building of the present meeting-house 
— names of contributors. 

"In 1811 the society voted to build, and appointed a com- 
mittee to ascertain the centre of the town by actual survey. 
The committee found it to be about forty or fifty rods east 
of the now (1856) travelled road, a few rods north of where 
Auren Tibbals now resides, about one hundred and fifty 
rods south of the meeting-house, and south side of Burr 
Mountain, and the center line between east and west on the 
turnpike road is about one hundred rods east of the meet- 
ing-house." (At the time mentioned above (1856), Auren 
Tibbals lived on the Goshen road, very near the present 
entrance to the grounds of Mr. H. H. Bridgeman, in the 
house occupied later for many years by William McGor- 
mick.) "The society were not unanimous as to the precise 
spot or place where the house should be placed. Some said, 
where it now is. The largest number said, the middle of 
the green. Those residing in the east part of the town said 
it must be on the east side of the green, north of where 
Deacon Pettibone's house now stands. All agreed, — have 
a judicious committee to fix the place, and we will be satis- 




MICHAEL F. MILLS, ESQ. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 191 

fled. Julius Deming, Esq., and Uriel Holmes, Esq., of 
Litchfield, and Elisha Sterling, Esq., of Salisbury, were the 
committee agreed upon, who, after viewing, and a full hear- 
ing, fixed the stake where the meeting-house now is. All 
cheerfully acquiesced. 

At a society meeting, a motion to choose a committee or 
agent to superintend the business of building, etc., and the 
number to be appointed, — seven, five, three and two were 
named and negatived. It was then voted to choose one, by 
ballot. They passed around, deposited their votes. The 
moderator counted and said, You are well agreed. You 
have made choice of Michael F. Mills to be your agent, he 
having all the votes but seven. Mr. Mills accepted. He 
asked the meeting if they had any directions to give as to 
size, form or fashion, etc., etc. The general reply was none, 
— none; build us as good a house as you can for Six Thou- 
sand Dollars. Mr. Mills viewed and examined a number of 
meeting-houses that had then been built a few years pre- 
vious. He counselled and advised with experienced builders. 
He had a plan prepared, and was exhibiting it to a number 
of the inhabitants and explaining his views. A member of 
the society was present who was not zealously engaged to 
build, and who said to Mr. Mills, 'How do you know that 
will suit the Society?' Mr. Mills replied, 'I do not know 
that it will suit them; but that is the house I am a going 
to build, and when it is finished if it does not suit them, they 
may build another.' The house when finished gave general 
satisfaction. Mr. Mills contracted with Col. Foote of Tor- 
rington to put up and complete the frame, which was ad- 
mitted to be by those who examined it, one of the best in 
the country. Mr. Mills contracted with David Hoadly to 
finish and complete the house. It was completed in 1814." 

The following beautiful, suggestive sentence from the 
dedicatory prayer of this house, remembered by Mr. Harlow 
Roys, who was present at the dedication, by him repeated 
to his niece, Mrs. Abbie Moses Lawrence, by her written 
down, kept, and now given to the compiler, is worthy of per- 
manent preservation. It is as follows: — 



192 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

"These hallowed walls, — these consecrated seats, — this 
sacred desk, — this arched dome, — this lofty spire, which 
points the good man the way to Heaven, great God, we con- 
secrate to Thee." By whom this dedicatory prayer was of- 
fered is to the writer unknown. 

At a town meeting held April 26, 1813, it was "Voted, 
that the south-east corner of the new meeting-house shall 
stand six feet south of the present meeting-house, in the 
line of the stake set by the committee from the County 
Court. Voted to finish the lower part of the meeting-house 
in the following manner, viz.: the square body to be slips 
and the wall seats to be pews. Voted to give Mr. Hoadly, 
the builder, liberty to remove the three south pews in the 
present meeting-house and occupy the space as a work- 
shop." 

February 28, 1814, it was "Voted, to transfer the Ecclesi- 
astical business formerly done townwise, to the Ecclesi- 
astical Society recently formed, and all the writings relating 
to said business into the hands of the proper officers of said 
society," 

It is of interest to recall the fact that at the time of the 
erection of the church building, which is still in fine order 
and condition, the whole business was done by the town, 
separate from any Ecclesiastical Society, or religious or- 
ganization, that society having been formed in December, 
1813, subsequent to the erection of the "new meeting- 
house," as it was called, but before its completion and dedi- 
cation. 

At a town meeting held November 18th, 1811, "A vote 
was passed by a great majority to appoint a Committee for 
the purpose of obtaining subscriptions sufficient to build 
a new meeting-house by subscription entirely, if the Society 
agree on a place to set said house. If not, to have the stake 
fixed by a Committee from the County Court. A committee 
of twelve prominent men of the town was chosen to solicit 
subscriptions, who evidently went promptly and earnestly 
about the business, as upon the 9th of December following 
the committee reported that they "Have been so happy as 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 193 

to obtain as subscribers, the names of all the inhabitants 
belonging to the Society, with the exception of a very few 
persons, not exceeding six or eight, and that a number have 
engaged to add to their subscription, if necessary." 

The amount which they reported as subscribed was 
|4,437.75. The members of this committee were ''Eden 
Mills, Jedediah Richards, Jr., Benjamin Welch, Esq., Col. 
J. W. Phelps, Joseph Battell, Esq., Dea. David Frisbie, 
Ebenezer Cowles, Capt. Aaron Case, Ephraim Coy, Luther 
Foot, Charles Walter and Capt. John Bradley." 

It is believed by this writer that the names of those who 
were subscribers at that time will be read at various times 
by some persons with interest; not simply to show who 
gave the money to pay for the building, but to learn who 
were the residents of the town almost ninety years ago; 
to learn how many, of the more than two hundred names 
given, have descendants now living in this town, or else- 
where, bearing their names, or direct descendants having 
other names. It will be found that but very few descend- 
ants of the entire list are to be found here, and many fami- 
lies who were prominent then, are entirely gone and for- 
gotten now\ Let their names be published, that at least 
this may be known and remembered of them, — once they 
were residents of Norfolk, — interested in its welfare, and 
ready to aid in its upbuilding. 

The document to which these names were subscribed 
specified that "The subscribers promise to pay the sums 
affixed to our names for the purpose of building a meeting- 
house of a size of 60 feet by 45, with a steeple and bell, at 
such place as shall best accommodate the Society, and to 
be fixed by a disinterested committee," etc. The list sug- 
gests many things of interest. The largest subscription, 
by the one who headed the list was |333.33; the smallest, 
75 cents. Four others gave more than $100 each. Eighteen 
others gave |50 or more each. Abraham Burt gave "$25 in 
Lightning-rod," and that rod still guides into earth the 
bolts of heaven. There were eight fl.OO subscriptions, and 
one 11.50. James Parrit, ''Quaker Parrit," as he was al- 



194 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 



ways called, gave $12.00. He was a member of the society 
of "Friends," an exemplary and esteemed citizen. In his 
later years Mr. Parrit and Dr. Eldridge were the warmest 
of friends, the Dr. enjoying his shrewd, quaint, common- 
sense talks and conversation exceedingly, and at Mr. Par- 
rlt's request Dr. Eldridge ofiQciated at his funeral, and read 
as he had promised to do, the thirty-ninth Psalm, which 
was Mr. Parritt's "Creed." His funeral was attended in 
the church. He died October 28, 1856, aged 82. 
The list of names is the following: — 



Joseph Battell 

Charles Walter & Son 

Luther Foot 

Ezekiel Willcox 

Benjamin Welch & Son 

Levi Grant 

Jeremiah W. Phelps & Son 

Joseph C. Yale 

John Bradley 

Benjamin Gaylord 

Eden Riggs 

Philemon Gaylord 

Timothy and Reuben Gaylord 

Amasa Cowles Jun. 

Augustus Mills 

Nathaniel Stevens 

Clark Walter 

Loisa Pettibone 

Michael F. Mills 

Allen S. Holt 

Salmon Bale 

Nathaniel Roys 

Amasa Cowles, Sen. 

Thomas Curtis 

Auren Roys 

Darius Phelps 

Joshua and William Nettleton 

Joshua Nettleton, Jun. 

Joseph Jones 

Lemuel Akins 

Steven Pain 

Ephraim H. Deneson 

James Swift 



Samuel N. Gaylord 

Earl P. Hawley 

Josiah Pettibone 

Joseph Orvis 

Philo Munson 

Barzil Treat 

Daniel Burr & Co. 

Medad Walter 

Hezekiah Turner 

Wilcox Phelps 

Anson Norton 

Daniel Roys 

Augustus Roys 

Widow Anna Brown 

Nathaniel Bobbins 

Roswell Grant 

James Grant 

Frederick Bandle 

Moses Grant 

Asahel Case and Asahel E. 

Solomon Tucker 

Ira Skinner 

Joseph Orvis, Jun. 

Eden Mills 

Lawrence Mills 

Titus Nettleton 

William French 

Joseph Loomis ■ 

Benoni French 

Ephraim Norton 

Ebenezer Cowles & Sons 

Bethuel Phelps 

Lancelot Phelps 



Case 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 



195 



Augustus Pettibone 
Nathan P. Holt 
John Doud 
Elizur Munger 
Earl P. Pease 
Benjamin Maltbie 
Jacob Maltbie 
Samuel Forbes, 
Roys Gaylord, Jun. 
Eliphalet Barden 
Elisha Hawley 
Bushnell Knapp 
Levi Camp 
Constantine Mills 
Stephen Norton 
Benjamin Calhoun 
Seth Willcos 
Timothy Barber 
Ebenezer Cowles 2d 
Asa Burr 
Reuben Brown 
James Roys 
Joshua Beach" 
Reuben Dean 
Noah Miner 

Ebenezer Norton & Son 
Jonathan Moses 
Joseph Plumley 
David Gaylord 
Augustus Phelps 
John Smith 
Abel Camp, Jun. 
Zera Babbitt 
Jonathan Pettibone 
David Sexton 
Aaron Burr & Sons 
Moses Camp 
Aaron Brown 
Ephraim Coy 
Aaron Brown. Jun. 
Amasa Gaylord 
David Frisbie, Juu. 
Linus McKean 
John Warner 
Nathaniel Pease 
Widow Desiah Pease 



Joseph and Thomas Ferry 

Edward Gaylord & Son 

Joseph Ferry, Jun. 

Miles Riggs 

Malachi Humphrey 

Benoni Mills 

Robert U. Richards 

David Orvis 

Thomas Miner, Jun. 

Daniel Cotton 

Samuel Hotchkiss 

Luman & James Hotchkiss 

Jonathan Olark 

Jared Butler 

James Sturdivant 

Sylvanus Norton, Jun. 

Eleazer Holt 

Timothy D. Northway 

Samuel Northway & Son 

Isaac Spaulding 

James Rood 

Martin Green 

Phllo Spaulding 

Caleb Knapp 

Hylan Knapp 

Stephen Holt 

Josenh Hull 

Sylvanus Norton & Sons 

Nicholas Holt 

Samuel Knapp 3d 

Daniel Loveland & Son 

David Frisbie 

Elizabeth Seward 

Edmund Brown 

Thomas Tibbals 

Amos Baldwin 

Josiah Roys 

Jesse Moses 

Thomas Moses 

Elkanah Coy 

Levi Thompson 

Aaron Case 

Ebenezer Plumley 

Stephen Norton, Jun. 

Jedediah Phelps 

Prudence Jones 



196 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 



Rebecca Ives 
Elizabeth Humphrey 
Samuel Gaylord 
Samuel & Warren Cone 
David W. Roys 
Samuel C. Triscott 
Samuel Gaylord, Jun. 
George Tobey, Jun. 
George Tobey 
David Lawson 
Aaron Burr, Jr. 
John C Frisbie 
Jedediah Richards & Sons 
Joseph Rockwell 
Joseph Smith 
Samuel Pettibone 
Philemon Johnson 
James Parrit 
David Doolittle 
Aaron Ludenton 
Flora Fancher 
Francis Benedict, Jun. 



Rev. Ammi Robbins & Son 

Joseph Gaylord 

John Beach 

Samuel Pettibone, Jun. 

Benjamin Bigelow 

Peter Freedom 

Joshua Moses 

Elias Balcom 

Abraham Burt, in lightning rod 

Augustus Smith 

Widow Zilpah Grant 

Samuel Johnson 

Oliver Hotchkiss 

Israel Crissey 

Josiah Hotchkiss 

Abiathar Rogers 

Joseph Doud 

Jedediah White 

Simeon White 

Daniel Pettibone 

Jonathan Norton 



XV. 



CEMETERIES — LONGEVITY IN NORFOLK. 

Standing on some high point where both the village and 
the cemetery here in Norfolk are to be seen, the writer is 
often reminded of our former neighbor, Mrs. Rose Terry 
Cook's poem, "The Two Villages." Suggestive, and appro- 
priate as an introduction to the following article, the poem 
is herewith given in full: 

"THE TWO VILLAGES." 

"Over the river, on the hill, 
"Lieth a village, white and still. 
"All around it the forest trees 
"Shiver and whisper in the breeze. 
"Over it, sailing shadows go, 
"Of soaring hawk and screaming crow; 
"And mountain grasses, low and sweet, 
"Grow in the middle of every street. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 197 

"Over the river under the hill 
"Another village lieth still. 
"Then I see in the cloudy night, 
"Twinkling stars of household light; 
"Fires that gleam from the smithy's door; 
"Mists that curl on the river shore. 
"And in the roads no grasses grow, 
"For the wheels that hasten to and fro. 

"In that village on the hill, 

"Never is sound of smithy or mill. 

"The houses are thatched with grass and flowers; 

"Never a clocli to toll the hours. 

"The marble doors are always shut; 

"You cannot enter in hall or hut. 

"All the villagers lie asleep, 

"Never a grain to sow or reap; 

"Never in dreams to moan and sigh; 

"Silent, and idle, and low, they lie. 

"In that village under the hill, 
"When the night is starry and still, 
"Many a weary soul in prayer, 
"Looks to the other village there, 
"And weeping and sighing, longs to go 
"Up to that home from this below. 
"Longs to sleep in the forest wild, 
"Whither have vanished wife and child; 
"And heareth, praying, this answer fall:— 
" 'Patience! that village shall hold ye all.' " 



Quoting from Roys: — "As the potent enemy of life soon 
began its ravages, the inhabitants were obliged to seek a 
place where to bury their dead. The first burials were in 
Canaan, where the first settlers attended public worship 
on the Sabbath. The first person buried in this town was 
the wife of Jedediah Turner. Her grave with two others 
were on the ground where Col. J. W. Phelps built his house. 
In digging his cellar the bones were found almost entire. 
They were enclosed in a case and deposited not far distant 
in a decent and proper manner. The next persons who 
died were placed in the present centre burying-ground." 



198 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

At a Proprietor's meeting, February 22, 1757, the follow- 
ing record was made: — "We the Subscribers, being desired 
by some proprietors, inhabitants in the town of Norfolk, 
for to lay out a piece of ground for a buryal-yard, have ac- 
cordingly laid out the land hereafter named, — bounded 
thus: Beginning at a stake and stones standing in the high- 
way the south line thereof, which goes from Canaan to 
Norfolk; and the same lyes south of the 48th lot in the first 
division, second going over; thence south 24 west, 8 rods 
to the bank of the river, a stake and stones; thence west 24 
north 20 rods to a stake and stones; then north 24 east 8 
rods to a stake and stones at the aforesaid highway; which 
lot last described lyes about 40 rods or therabouts westerly 
of a bridge built by Benoni Moses; and ye said peace of 
land contains one acre. We recommend to said proprietors 
as a convenient place to bury the dead in, and that said 
proprietors would vote and appropriate the same for said 
use. 

Witness our hands, Daniel Lawrence, Jr., 

Feb. 18,1757. Joshua Whitney. 

"In public proprietor's meeting the above written was 
voted and ordered to be recorded and the same to be ap- 
propriated for ye use as is above exprest." 

This was the beginning of the present Centre Cemetery, 
which during the entire history of the town has been its 
principal burying place, and where several generations 
have been laid to rest, as for instance, there are at least 
four generations of the Aiken family buried there, and 
as many generations of other families. The first enlarging, 
or rather changing of the original acre, was by vote of the 
town in 1773, when Dudley Humphrey, Titus Ives, and 
Samuel Cowles, Jr., were appointed "to agree with Giles 
Pettibone for land in order to bring the burying ground 
out to the highway, showing conclusively, that the original 
highway ran through the present cemetery, as the original 
acre ran "from the south line of the highway 8 rods to the 
bank of the river. It seems probable that the committee 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 199 

"to agree with Giles Pettibone for land," etc., gave him the 
west half of the original acre, and received in exchange in 
part, as much land on the north side of the east half of it, 
after the highway was changed to where it now is. De- 
cember 4, 1775, it was "Voted that the Selectmen fence the 
burying ground and lay it out for improvement to the best 
advantage." 

Roys says, "Centre burying-ground purchased, 1774." 
Possibly he refers to the first enlargement, made in 1774. 
May 26, 1774, Giles Pettibone, deeded to the town for the 
consideration of 30 shillings lawful money, . . . "the land 
following, being for the use of a burying yard and lying 
in said Norfolk and beginning at the north east corner 
of the old burying yard and to run westward in the line 
of said burying yard 8 rods to a heap of stones. Then 
northerly to a heap of stones this day set up standing in 
the line of the highway. Thence eastward in the line of 
said highway 7 rods to a heap of stones; thence to the first 
bounds, and contains about 105 rods of land, more or less. 
To have and to hold, etc. ... In witness whereof I have 
hereunto set my hand and seal the 26 day of May in the 
14th year of the reign of our loveing Lord George 3d of 
Great Britain." The grounds were again enlarged to the 
present size in about 1875, the land lying west of the old 
ground and south of the highway having been obtained 
of Dr. J. H. P. Stevens after some opposition and quite a 
contest; some of the residents of the town at that time 
thinking it better to open an entirely new cemetery instead 
of enlarging the old one. The added grounds have been 
nicely laid out, and together with the old part greatly beau- 
tified and improved. 

A small cemetery was at an early day opened in the 
North part of the town. Northwest of and not far from the 
Great Pond, now called Doolittle Pond. 

In the year 1790 the cemetery in the South End district 
was opened, the first burial there being Mrs. Abigail 
Cowles, widow of Mr. Joseph Gowles. Here were buried 
three generations named Joshua Moses, and a fourth gen- 



200 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

eration, Joshua Nelson Moses; Not a descendant of the 
Moses name remains in town so far as is known. 

The cemetery on the Goshen road toward South Norfolk 
was opened about 1818 and a large number of the former 
residents of that part of the town lie buried there. 

In the early days of the town there was quite a settle- 
ment toward the southwest part, near the Canaan line, 
called Meekertown, from the principal settler in that region, 
Phineas Meeker, (who in 1764 married Sarah Brown.) Mr. 
Meeker seems to have emigrated ; and about 1820 Dea. Noah 
Miner reported to the church that there was a settlement 
in Meekertown that he called a "hamlet of heathens, living 
in intellectual, moral and spiritual darkness," and recom- 
mended that some missionary work be done there. "It 
was said at the time that not half the people of Norfolk 
knew that there was such a place within its borders." Mr. 
E. Lyman Gaylord, a native of this town, now living at 
Rocky Hill, Ct., writes that about 1820 or 1821 in company 
with Mr. Wilcox Phelps he rode through Meekertown on 
horseback, "and from what we saw we concluded that Dea- 
con Miner's report was not overstated." There was a 
burial place in Meekertown and a number of persons were 
buried there, — their graves being marked only by a rough 
stone; no name being found or any inscription whatever. 
The place is now grown up into a forest again. One man 
named Meeker is said to have been buried there, but so 
far as known no monument was ever erected at his grave, 
and now the place even is unknown. 

In the north-east part of the town, near Doolittle pond, 
a Cemetery was opened in the early part of this century, 
the earliest date noticed there being, Francis Benedict died 
April, 1815, aged 78. Many of the old residents of that 
part of the town were buried there: the Butlers, Walters, 
Nortons, Holts, Hawleys, Spauldings, Northways, and 
others. There are two "Quaker monuments," as they are 
called there, being marble posts, seven or eight inches 
square. One has the inscription James Parrit, (who is men- 
tioned elsewhere) October 28, 1856, aged 82, and Caty Par- 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 201 

rit, 1854, aged 79. There are a large number of unmarked 
graves in this cemetery; the Orvis family being one it is 
said; persons of influence in town at one time. Also graves 
of twenty or more children of Ira Decker, all unmarked. 

LONGEVITY IN NORFOLK. 

A comparison of the vital statistics of other towns hav- 
ing no greater population than this town has, might pos- 
sibly show as interesting an array of facts and figures re- 
lating to the longevity of life as do those of Norfolk, but 
in the absence of the proof, the writer begs leave to ex- 
press his opinion that the percentage of persons living to 
be past 80 years of age, and also past 90 years, as shown 
by statistics of this town, cannot be surpassed, or equaled, 
in Connecticut, or New England. 

The following figures and facts are suggestive and in- 
teresting: Between April, 1879, and January, 1881, (less 
than two years) six persons died in Norfolk whose average 
age was 93 1-3 years. An exceptional case, possibly, — but 
the exception proves the rule, always. 

Read the names and ages of the persons past 70, who 
died in the year 1880, for instance: January — Samuel 
Smith, 72; Mrs. H. Kellogg, 72; Mrs. Matthew Ryan, 70. 
February — Miss Polly Burr, 75; Miss Mary Bell, 84. 
March — Miss Philey Beach, 84; Miss Harriet Holt, 94. 
April — Miss Almiras Holt, 84; Miss Flora Bell, 82; Mr. 
Levi Shepard, 95 and 6 mos.; Mr. Anson Norton, 90 and 7 
mos. May — Dea. James Mars, 90. June — Miss Lucy Cur- 
tiss, 87. August — Mr. Matthew Ryan, 79. September — 
Mr. Anson Gaylord, 80; Dea. Abijah Hall, 82; Mrs. Erastus 
Smith, 86; Mrs. John Heady, 84; Mrs. Luther Butler, 89. 
October — Mrs. Daniel White, 74 — 20 persons; average age, 
82 3-4 years. And the old people were not all gone yet, for 
in January, 1881, there followed Mrs. Seth Preston, 95, and 
within a few months, Mr. Samuel S. Camp, 80; Mr. Hiram 
Mills, 86; Mr. Daniel Hotchkiss, 82; Mrs. Benjamin W. 
Crissey, 85; Capt. Auren Tibbals, 91; Mr. Matthew O'Brien, 



202 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

83; Mr. John A. Shepard, 81. Nathaniel Roys died here in 
1832 in his 100th year. Daniel Beardsley died here in 1864, 
aged 99 years and 8 months. On a tombstone in the South 
End cemetery in this town is this inscription: "In memory 
of Widow Eachel Ferry, who died December 9, 1810, aged 
101 years and 10 days. 'Blessed are the dead who die in 
the Lord.' " A woman is now living in this town who has 
passed her 100th birthday, and says she thinks "the dear 
Lord has forgotten to call her home." (Her call has just 
come.) 



XVI. 

LITCHFIELD COUNTY CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 

At a meeting of the Bar of Litchfield County, held in 
Litchfield, January 8, 1851, the subject of holding a Centen- 
nial Celebration of the organization of the county during 
that year was considered, and a committee composed of 
seven members of the Bar of the County was appointed to 
take such action in the matter as they deemed best. That 
committee called a meeting of the citizens of the county, 
which was held at the court-house in Litchfield February 
19th, following, at which meeting the following action was 
taken : — 

"Whereas, We have now entered on the one hundredth 
year since the organization of the County of Litchfield, 
and as during this period thousands of the sons and daugh- 
ters of the county have emigrated to other States and 
countries, many of whom are still living and occupying 
prominent positions in public stations, professions and oc- 
cupations, who as well as others, would rejoice to return 
and visit the homes of their childhood, and we would re- 
joice to meet and welcome them; 

Resolved, That for this purpose a Centennial Celebration 
shall be held at Litchfield, on Wednesday and Thursday, 
the 13th and 14th days of August, 1851, and that a Com- 



HISTOKY OF NORFOLK. 203 

mittee of Arrangements from the different towns in the 
county be appointed; also a Central Committee, to make 
the necessary and suitable arrangements for the occasion. 
That among the public exercises there be a Sermon, Oration 
and Poem; a pubic dinner, and other social entertainments, 
short addresses and poems suited to the occasion. Of the 
Central Committee of nine, one was Bobbins Battell of 
Norfolk. The Committee of Arrangements from this town 
were Michael F. Mills, Esq., Warren Cone, E. Grove Law- 
rence, Auren Tibbals and Samuel D. Northway. At a 
meeting of the Central Committee, Hon. Samuel Church of 
Litchfield, a native of Salisbury, was selected to deliver 
the Oration; Rev. Horace Bushnell, D. D., of Hartford, a 
native of Litchfield, the Sermon; and Rev. John Pierpont, 
LL. D., of Medford, Mass., a native of Litchfield, the Poem. 
In March the Chairman of the Central Committee, (Seth 
P. Beers,) issued to the Committees of the several towns 
a Circular, regarding the duties expected from them in 
preparing for the Celebration, sending invitations to the 
natives of the various towns, etc., and requesting the Com- 
mittees to procure portraits and other relics of the past, 
illustrative of former manners and models of life, to be 
forwarded to Litchfield and arranged for exhibition. Judge 
Church, the Orator of the occasion, asked for information 
regarding the early history of each of the towns, notices 
of the distinguished men, divines, lawyers, physicians, au- 
thors, officers, chaplains, and soldiers in the war of the 
American Revolution, etc. 

Very thorough and extensive preparations for this cele- 
bration were made, and it proved a great success. It was 
early decided "to dispense with a public dinner." 

Major General William T. King of Sharon was Marshal 
for the day, with twenty-two assistants; one from each 
town in the county; Col. Robbins Battell was the Norfolk 
Marshal. General Daniel B. Brinsmade of Washington 
was President of the day. The Band from the Watervliet 
Arsenal, N. Y., furnished music. The exercises were held 
in the park in West street, near the center of which was 



204 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

erected the large tent belonging to Yale College, with large 
additions, etc. 

The vocal music for the occasion was furnished by the 
Litchfield County Musical Association, of which Deacon 
Darius Phelps of Norfolk was the very eflBcient Leader. 
Notice was given to the members of this Musical Asso- 
ciation, through the papers, requesting them to attend the 
Celebration, to bring with them the "Boston Academy's 
Collection of Choruses," and to come prepared to sing from 
that book, the "Hallelujah Chorus," "Blessed is He that 
Cometh," and "The Hailstone Chorus." Upon the days of 
the celebration the weather was very fine; the procession 
marched through the principal streets of the town, and 
when the vast audience was seated as far as possible in 
the tent, the exercises were opened by the Litchfield 
County Musical Association, who sang with grand effect, 
to the tune 'Old Hundred,' the Psalm, 

" Be Thou O God, exalted high.'' 

After prayer the oration of Judge Church was pronounced, 
from which brief quotations in this volume are made. This 
address by this distinguished son of Litchfield County is 
of very great historic interest. A volume, giving a full re- 
port of this celebration, containing the addresses, and the 
equally interesting sermon and poem, can be found in the 
Norfolk Library and in various private libraries, in this 
town. 

The discourse of Dr. Horace Bushnell of Hartford was 
worthy of its distingushed author and of the occasion. 
Some extracts, giving a vivid picture of the early days of 
our history as he saw and recalled it, are given. Speaking 
upon the day after Judge Church's address, he spoke of 
himself as "a gleaner in the stubble-ground that is left, 
gathering up the unwritten part of the history celebrated, 
the unhistoric deeds of common-life, of those whose names 
are written only in heaven;" . . . describing this first 
century, as the Homespun Age of our people. . . . "What 
we call History, I conceive to be commonly very much of a 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 205 

fiction. True worth is, for the most part, unhistoric. We 
say of history rightly, that it is a record of e-vents; that is, 
of turnings out; points where the silence is broken by 
something apparently not in the regular flow of common 
life. In our historic pictures we gather, under the name 
of a prominent few, what is really done by nameless multi- 
tudes. Therefore if you ask who made this Litchfield 
County of ours, it will be no suflBcient answer that you gef, 
however instructive and useful, when you have gathered 
up the names that appear in our public records, and re- 
cited the events that have found an honorable place in the 
history of the county. You must not go into the burial 
places, and look about only for the tall monuments and 
the titled names. It is not the starred epitaphs of the 
Doctors of Divinity, the Generals, the Judges, that mark 
the springs of our successes and the sources of our dis- 
tinction. These are effects rather than causes. The spin- 
ning wheels have done a great deal more than these. 
Around the honored few, a Bellamy, a Day, a Bobbins, 
sleeping in the midst of his flock, ... all names of honor; 
round about these few, and others like them, are lying 
multitudes of worthy men and women under their humbler 
monuments, or in graves that are hidden by the monu- 
mental green that loves to freshen over their forgotten 
resting-place, in these we are to say are the deepest, truest 
causes of our happy history. Here lie the sturdy kings of 
Homespun, who climbed among these hills with their axes, 
to cut away rooms for their cabins and for family prayers, 
and so for the future good to come. Here lie the good 
housewives that made coats every year, like Hannah, for 
their children's bodies, and lined their memory with cate- 
chism. . . . These are the men and women that made 
Litchfield County; kings and queens of Homespun, out of 
whom we draw our royal lineage. ... If our sons and 
daughters should assemble a hundred years hence, to hold 
another celebration like this, they will scarcely be able to 
imagine the Arcadian pictures now so fresh in the memory 
of many of us. Everything that was most distinctive of 



206 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

the old homespun mode of life will then have passed away. 
The spinning-wheels of wool and flax, that used to buzz so 
familiarly in the childish ears of some of us, will be heard 
no more forever; seen no more in fact, save in the halls 
of Antiquarian Societies, where the delicate daughters 
will be asking, what these strange machines are, and how 
they are made to go. The huge, hewn-timber looms, that 
used to occupy a room by themselves in the farm houses, 
will be gone; cut up for cord wood, and their heavy thwack, 
beating up the woof, will be heard no more by the passer- 
by; not even the Antiquarian Halls will find room to harbor 
a specimen. The long strips of linen bleaching on the 
grass, and tended by a sturdy maiden, sprinkling them each 
hour from her water can, under a boiling sun, thus to pre- 
pare the Sunday linen for her brothers, and her own wed- 
ding outfit, will have disappeared, save as they return to 
fill a picture in some novel or ballad of the old time. . . . 
The heavy Sunday coats, that grew on sheep individually 
remembered, and the specially fine-striped, blue and white 
pantaloons, of linen just from the loom, will no longer be 
conspicuous in processions of footmen going to meeting, 
but will have given place to showy carriages, filled with 
gentlemen in broadcloath, festooned with chains of Cali- 
fornia gold, and delicate ladies holding perfumed sun 
shades. The churches, too, that used to be simple brown 
meeting-houses covered with rived clapboards of oak, will 
have come down mostly, from the bleak hill-tops into the 
close villages and populous towns that crowd the water- 
falls and the railroads. The old burial places where the 
fathers sleep will be left to their lonely altitude; token, 
shall we say, of an age that lived as much nearer to heaven 
and as much less under the world. Would that we might 
raise some worthy monument to a state which is then to 
be so far passed by, so worthy in all future time to be held 
in the dearest reverence. . . . 

Marriages were commonly contracted at a much earlier 
period in life then than now. Not because the habit of the 
time was more romantic or less prudential, but because a 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 207 

principle more primitive and closer to the beautiful sim- 
plicity of nature was yet in vogue, viz.: that women are 
given by the Almighty, not so much to help their husbands 
spend a living as to help them get one. Accordingly the 
ministers were always very emphatic as I remember in 
their marriage ceremonies, on the ancient idea, that the 
woman was given to the man to be a help-meet for him. 

The schools we must not pass by if we are to form a truth- 
ful picture of the homespun days. The schoolmaster did 
not exactly go round the district to fit out the children's 
minds with learning, as the shoemaker did to fit their feet 
with shoes, or the tailors to measure and cut for their 
bodies, but to come as near it as possible, he boarded round, 
a custom not yet gone by. The children were all clothed 
alike, in homespun, and the only signs of aristocracy were, 
that some were clean and some a degree less so; some in 
fine white and striped linen, some in brown tow-crash. The 
good fathers of some testified the opinion they had of their 
children by bringing fine round loads of hickory wood to 
warm them, while some others, I regret to say, brought 
scanty, scraggy, ill-looking heaps of green oak, white-birch 
and hemlock. Indeed about all the bickerings of quality 
among the children centered in the quality of the wood- 
pile. There was no complaint in those days of the want 
of ventilation, for the large open fire-place held a consid- 
erable fraction of a cord of wood, and the windows took 
in enough air to supply the combination. The seats were 
made of the outer slabs from the saw-mill, supported by 
slant legs driven into and a proper distance through auger 
holes, and planed smooth on the top by the rather tardy 
process of friction. . . . 

Passing from the school to the church, or rather I should 
say to the meeting-house, here again you meet the picture 
of a sturdy homespun worship. There is no furnace or 
stove, save the foot-stones that are filled from the fires of 
the neighboring houses. They are seated according to age; 
the old in front, near the pulpit, and the younger farther 
back, enclosed in pews, sitting back to back, impounded 



208 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

all, for deep thought and spiritual digestion; only the dea- 
cons, sitting close under the pulpit, by themselves, to re- 
ceive as their distinctive honor the more perpendicular 
droppings of the word. Clean round the front of the gal- 
lery is drawn a single row of choir, headed by the key-pipe 
in the centre. The pulpit is overhung by an august wooden 
canopy, called a sounding-board. ... If the minister 
speaks in his great coat and thick gloves or mittens, if the 
howling blasts of winter blow in across the assembly fresh 
streams of ventilation that move the hair upon their heads, 
they are none the less content, if only he gives them good 
strong exercise. Under their hard, and as some would 
say, stolid faces, great thoughts are brewing, and these 
keep them warm. Free-will, fixed-fate, foreknowledge ab- 
solute, trinity, redemption, special grace, eternity, — give 
them anything high enough, and if they go away having 
something to think of they have had a good day. These 
royal men of homespun, how great a thing to them was re- 
ligion! 

View them as we may, there is yet and always will be, 
something magnificent in their stern, practical fidelity to 
their principles. If they believed it to be more scriptural 
and Christian to begin their Sunday at the sunset on Sat- 
urday, their practise did not part company with their prin- 
ciples. It was sundown at sundown; not somewhere be- 
tween that time and the next morning. I remember being 
dispatched when a lad, one Saturday afternoon in the win- 
ter, to bring home a few bushels of apples engaged of a 
farmer a mile distant; how the careful, exact man looked 
first at the clock, then out the window at the sun, and turn- 
ing to me said, "I cannot measure out the apples in time 
for you to get home before sundown ; you must come again 
Monday;" then how I went home venting my boyish impa- 
tience in words not exactly respectful, the sunlight playing 
still upon the eastern hills, and got for my comfort a small 
amount of specially silent sympathy. I have not yet as- 
certained whether that refusal was exactly justified by the 
patriarchal authorities appealed to, or not. Be that as it 



HISTORY OF NORFOTJJ:. 209 

may, have what opinion of it you will. I confess to you 
for one, that I recall the honest, faithful days of homespun 
represented in it; days when men's lives went by their con- 
sciences, as their clocks did by the sun, with a feeling of 
profoundest reverence. It is more than respectable; it is 
sublime. 

Regarding the homespun age as represented in these pic- 
tures of the social and religious life, we need in order to 
a full understanding of the powers and the possibilities 
of success embodied in it, to descend into the practical 
struggle of common life, and see how the muscle of energy 
and victory is developed, under its close necessities. The 
sons and daughters grew up in the closest habits of in- 
dustry. In these olden times they supposed in their sim- 
plicity that thrift represented work, and looked about sel- 
dom for any more delicate and sharper way of getting on. 
The house was a factory on the farm; the farm, a grower 
and producer for the house. No affectation of polite living, 
no languishing airs of delicacy and softness indoors, had 
begun to make the fathers and sons impatient of hard 
work out of doors, and set them at some easier and more 
plausible way or living. Their very dress represented 
work, and they went out as men whom the wives and daugh- 
ters had dressed for work, facing all weather, cold and hot, 
wet and dry, wrestling with the plow on the stony-sided 
hills, digging out the rocks by hard lifting and a good many 
very practical experiments in mechanics; dressing the flax, 
threshing the rye, dragging home in the deep snows, the 
great wood-pile of the year's consumption; and then, when 
the day is ended, having no loose money to spend in tav- 
erns, taking their recreation all together, in reading, or 
singing, or happy talk, or silent looking in the fire, and 
finally in sleep, to rise again with the sun, and pray over 
the family Bible, for just such another good day as the 
last. And so they lived, working out each year a little 
advance of thrift, just within the line of comfort. It is, 
on the whole, a hard and over severe picture, and yet a 
picture that embodies the highest points of merit; con- 



210 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

nects the noblest results of character. Out of it, in one 
view, come all the successes we commemorate on this fes- 
tive occasion. ... If they were sometimes drudged by 
their over-intense labor, still they were kept by it in a gen- 
erally rugged state, both of body and mind. They kept 
a good digestion, which is itself no small part of char- 
acter. . . . 

I have wished to bring out an impression of the unre- 
corded history of the times gone by. We must not think 
on such an occasion as this that the great men have made 
the history. Rather it is the history that has made the 
men. It is the homespun many, the simple Christian men 
and women of the century gone by, who bore their life 
struggle faithfully, in these valleys and among these hills, 
and who are now sleeping in the untitled graves of Chris- 
tian worth and piety. These are they whom we are most 
especially to honor. . . . Worth indeed it is; that worth 
which, being common, is the sub-structure and the prime 
condition of a happy social state, and of all the honors that 
dignify its history. Worth, not of men only, but quite as 
much of women. Let no woman imagine that she is with- 
out consequence, or motive to excellence, because she is 
not conspicuous. It is the greatness of woman that she is so 
much like the great powers of nature, back of the noise and 
clatter of the world's affairs, tempting all things with her 
benign influence; forgetful of herself and fame. . . . Men 
and women of Litchfield County, such has been the past, 
good and honorable. We give it over to you. The future 
will be what you make it. Be faithful to the sacred trust 
God is this day placing in your hands." 



m m 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 211 



XVII. 

SEVERE WINTERS AND STORMS IN CONNECTICUT. 

(FKOM AM OLD HAETFOBD COUBANT). 

"The records of hard winters in Connecticut during the 
past two centuries, which stand out conspicuously, will 
be looked back to with considerable interest. During the 
winter of 1872-3, there were thirty-six zero mornings, and 
102 days of sleighing in Hartford. The winter of 1856-7 
was very severe. The winter of 1837-8 was noted for deep 
snows. The winter of 1815-16 was also noted for its ter- 
rible snow storms. In February, 1791, a snow fall of four 
days duration occurred, the snow falling six feet on a level. 
The winter of 1761-2 was very cold, with deep snows. The 
winter of 1741-2 was famous throughout New England for 
deep snows and intense cold weather. The first deep snow 
fell on the 13th of November, giving good sleighing which 
lasted until the 20th of April, making 158 successive days 
of good sleighing in Connecticut. In February, 1717, oc- 
curred the greatest snow storm ever known in this coun- 
try. It commenced on the 17th and lasted until the 24th, 
the snow falling from ten to twelve feet on the level. This 
snow made a remarkable era in New England, and the 
people in relating an event would say it happened so many 
years before or after the great snow. In February, 1691, 
a terrible storm occurred. In February, 1662, the snow 
fell so deep that a great number of deer came from the 
woods for food and were killed by the wolves. It will be 
noticed that all of our great snow storms have occurred 
in February." 



212 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

"THE BLIZZARD OF 1888." 
(Fbom the Habtfoed Coubant, Maecu 13, 1888). 

"March 12, 1888, will be memorable during the present 
generation as the beginning of one of the most remarkable 
storms of this remarkable century. In its almost unprece- 
dented severity, — in the wide extent of country affected, — 
in the total demoralization of railroad and telegraphic fa- 
cilities, and the complete blocking of local travel and busi- 
ness of almost every kind, it has no rival in the record of 
storms since railroads and telegraphs were invented. It 
is certain that many persons caught in the storm in the 
country must have perished, for even in the cities there 
would have been many deaths had not friendly hands been 
near to give relief and shelter." To show that this storm 
was not local: "New Haven, March 12, 1888. — The storm 
here is the most horrible ever known. The streets are im- 
passable for teams, and drifts are piled from ten to forty 
feet high on the sidewalks." 

"Providence, March 12. — A hurricane of wind and rain 
followed the storm of snow and sleet, and has brought 
business to a standstill. At Newport the breakers are the 
largest ever seen." 

"Springfield, Mass., March 12. — The storm is simply un- 
precedented. By noon business began to be suspended. 
The schools then closed for the day, and many children 
were lost in the blinding sleet and awful drifts, but no 
fatalities are known. The street railway company aban- 
doned cars along its lines and there they stand stalled. 
No hacks or other conveyances could be hired to leave the 
stables, for most of the streets were impassable. The depot 
is filled with trains which came in early in the day, and all 
attempts to start trains out were futile." 

"New York, March 13. — The mercury in New York this 
noon was down to zero. All railroads are utterly demoral- 
ized. President Depew of the New York Central says 
there never was such a state of affairs on the road before. 
No street cars are running in New York city or Brooklyn. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 213 

Elevated roads are only partially iu operation. The East 
river is frozen over, and thousands of people are crossing 
over on the ice. No ferry boats are running. Trains with 
two engines are being run every 15 minutes across the 
bridge, but the roadway of the bridge is closed. Immense 
drifts block up streets. The western side of Broadway 
has the appearance of a backwoods path. There are thirty 
trains stalled between Grand Central depot and Spuyten 
Duyvil." 

From the Courant, March 16th, 1888: 

'"And now they tell us it wasn't much of a storm. It 
began down by Alexandria, Virginia; was not felt west of 
Pittsburg and Buffalo; did not go further north than Sara- 
toga, and was not felt much east of Boston. This is the 
Western Union's outline, and as that company's feelers 
are out all over the country, it ought to be accurate. It 
was within 300 or 3.50 miles of the seacoast all the time, 
and it only swept over about 350 miles of territory length- 
wise, if a bee line is taken from Alexandria to Boston. 
It managed to paralyze the Pennsylvania and the New 
York Central roads, and all the roads that centre in New 
York, as well as in New England. Its like was never seen 
before." 

The following ^'Letter of Condolence" is of interest: 

(To) Robbing Battell. 74 Wall Street, New York. 

*'Des Moines, Iowa, March 12, 1888. 

"To New York, Pennsylvania and New England Friends: 

"In this, your hour of affliction, we deem it fitting to assure you 
of our heartfelt sympathy. We know we cannot realize the full- 
ness of your suffering, for the terrible blizzards recently visited 
upon you have surpassed anything we have ever known in Iowa, 
Nebraska, or Kansas. So far as possible, however, our hearts go 
out to you, and when we offer you, in behalf of our happy, pros- 
perous people, such financial aid as may be needed, we beg you to 
accept it in the spirit it is offered. 

Kindly preserve our little card as a reminder of the date of your 
latest dire calamity, remembering also that at the same date the 
sturdy farmers of Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa are out in the beau- 



214 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

tiful sunshine, preparing the soil to receive the seed which will 
spring forth into a magnificent harvest, with which to supply your 
physical wants." 

Very sincerely yours, 
"CENTRAL LOAN AND TRUST COMPANY." 

But some Norfolk descendant "out west" may say, "Why 
don't he tell us whether it stormed in Norfolk or not?" 

A good old man was once reading to his wife an account 
of a railroad catastrophe, which said, "John Smith was 
struck by a locomotive at a surface crossing; the entire 
train passed over him, severing his head from his body, 
and he was literally cut into pieces." His good wife said, 
"Does the paper say whether he was killed or not?" The 
good old man read the account again and remarked, "It 
don't say that it killed him, but I ruther reckon it must 
'uv." 

Yes, gentle reader, it snowed in Norfolk, and it also 
blowed, as can still be proven by eye-witnesses, and there 
were some drifts. From a "Journal of the great snow- 
storm," kept by a resident of the town, and copied for Miss 
Cynthia Foskett's Scrap-book, some extracts follow: "Mon- 
day, March 12, 1888. — Snow began to fall Sunday after- 
noon, but not in any great quantity until Sunday night. 
This morning there was nearly three feet of snow on the 
ground, and still falling with great rapidity. This after- 
noon the storm turned into a veritable blizzard, the wind 
blowing a gale, the air thick with the finest particles of 
snow I ever saw. But very few people ventured out; the 
cold and wind were so intense that hands, ears and noses 
were quickly frozen. 

Tuesday, 13th. Snow still falling steadily. When I 
reached the oflSce there was no oflBce, not a foot of the 
building being in sight, — only an immense bank of snow, 
the top of the chimney being covered by at least two feet. 
Snow continued to fall during the entire day. The wind 
is subsiding. 

Wednesday, 14. At exactly ten o'clock the snow ceased 
falling. This makes an unbroken record of falling snow 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 215 

from Sunday afternoon, March 11, to Wednesday morn- 
ing, March 14. It is hard to tell the exact depth of the 
snow on a level; various estimates place the depth from 
four to six feet. The drifts are 12, 15 and 18 feet high by 
measurement. The snow is up even with the roof of the 
church sheds. The Post-mistress is blockaded in the Post- 
ofBce, and has not been to her boarding place for two days. 
There are no trains and no telegraphic communication. 
The railroad track is an unbroken mass of drifts. The 
wind has been north-west from the beginning of the storm. 

Thursday, 15. The railroad has been opened from Win- 
sted to Hartford. Some of the largest drifts have been 
photographed by the local photographer. It was agreed 
to turn out in force tomorrow and assist the railroad com- 
pany. 

Friday, 16. The weather is warm and pleasant. By nine 
o'clock fifty men were at work trying to find the lost Rail- 
road track, and this force was soon swelled to sixty-two. 
Miss Anna Battell ordered a dinner from Mr. Stevens, the 
hotel keeper, for the entire party of sixty-two, which was 
served in the old Spaulding farm-house at one o'clock, in 
camp-fashion. A large number joined the force in the 
afternoon ; three engines fastened together and well braced 
in front with timbers came up from Winsted in the after- 
noon, followed by a gang of laborers. The entire force now 
numbered one hundred and fifty, and with the help of the 
engines the work proceeded rapidly. At 4.30 o'clock the 
road was clear from Winsted to Norfolk At seven o'clock 
a fourth engine arrived and brought last Monday's mail. 

Saturday, 17. The engines with the regular force of 
laborers and some volunteers started, and at 9.30 reached 
Canaan. We received a telegraphic despatch from Mr. Bat- 
tell, in New York. The first despatch received in Norfolk 
from New York since last Monday. The first passenger 
train arrived at noon and brought the first New York mail. 
Thursday afternoon a Hartford paper reached Winsted, 
and was read to Norfolk people by telephone; one man re- 
ceiving the news at this end, and shouting it out as it 
came. 



216 HISTOKY OF NORFOLK. 

Sunday, 18. Beyond Twin Lakes the drifts are reported 
to be twenty feet in height and more. Work will be con- 
tinued today. 

Monday, March 19. Several hundred laborers worked on 
the track yesterday, and by tonight Millerton will proba- 
bly be reached. The road has been closed now exactly one 
week. Finis." 

The severe winter of 1856 and 7 is mentioned in the fore- 
going. Then the State elections were held annually on 
the first Monday in April. The election in the spring of 
1857 was one of unusual interest in Norfolk, as the candi- 
dates for election to the State Senate in the old Seventeenth 
Senatorial District were both prominent citizens of the 
town, Mr. Nathaniel B. Stevens being the candidate of the 
Democratic party, and Mr. Samuel D. Northway that of 
the recently formed Republican party, and naturally each 
was anxious to get out his full vote in his own town. The 
snow in the roads in all the out parts of the town over 
which teams had driven all winter was at that time just 
melting, and was then as high as the top of the fences a 
large part of the way; and where the large drifts were it 
was ten feet deep and up, thus making all roads simply im- 
passable until they were shovelled out. The turnpike, 
(from Winsted to Canaan), had been opened up before elec- 
tion day, but the only team off from that line of road that 
came to the election was one that Mr. Northway started at 
sunrise with a light-footed horse, to bring Dea. Noah Miner 
and Daniel Cady, who were too old and lame to walk from 
their home in the south part of the town. Dea. Miner staid 
and visited with friends a day or two, and in the course 
of the week made his way home on foot, stopping over 
night with friends on the way. 

The following letter concerning Norfolk winters and 
other matters, is of interest. It was addressed to Mrs. 
Mary Oakley Beach, a well known native and resident of 
this town, recently deceased, by Mr. Kneeland J. Munson, 
a son of Mr. Joshua Munson, who was a life long resident 
and an extensive and successful farmer, his farm being 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 217 

on Canaan Mountain a mile or more south of "Canaan 
Mountain Pond," as it was called in his day; now, Lake 
Wangum. Mr. Kneeland Munson was president of the old 
Norfolk Bank for several years, and was well known in 
this town. 

Millerton, N. Y., November 16, 1894. 
Mrs. Mary Oakley Beach: 

"Your letter of the 15th received. I hardly understand it, par- 
ticularly about the sheep business. In the fall of 1826 my father 
bought about 150 shoats (young hogs) and turned them into what 
was called Norfolk woods, east of his place, to grow fat on beach 
nuts. On the 30th of December commenced a snow-storm which 
lasted four days, snowing steadily and heavily for the whole time, 
leaving over four feet of solid snow on the ground. When the 
storm abated, my father, with what help he could get, spent several 
days wallowing in the snow, trying to find the hogs. They finally 
succeeded in finding and getting home about 100; the other 50 were 
left to their fate. The snow was expected to make a great flood 
when it went off, but it lay on all winter and went off gradually 
by the sun the last of March and April, without any flood at all. 
In the fore part of April, 1827, two or three of these hogs found 
their way out to a collier's hut, and he gave my father notice of 
it. They then made another rally and search, and found quite a 
number, perhaps 20 or 25, but they were as wild animals. Some of 
them jumped out of a high pen after they got them home, and made 
their escape. For several years there was quite a crop of wild hogs 
in that region, until they became so troublesome that they had to 
be hunted down and destroyed." 

Respectfully yours, 

K. J. MUNSON." 

From a thoroughly reliable source the writer has been 
informed, that at a certain point on the east side of Chest- 
nut hill, or Gaylord hill as it has been sometimes called, 
where the snow drives over from the north-west and drifts 
in at the foot of a ledge, many years ago at the end of a 
snowy winter a man cut a notch at the surface of the drift 
in the top of a tree that was mostly buried by the snow. 
When the snow was all gone he cut down this tree, and by 
actual measurement found that the snow at that point was 
seventy feet deep. 

On the first Monday of May, 1840 or '41, Mr. Hiram 



218 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Wheeler with another young man started from his home 
in North Norfolk to attend training down town, that being 
training day. Seven or eight inches of snow had fallen 
the night previous. They crossed a pasture into which 
Mr. Anson Gaylord had turned a flock of sheep, and dis- 
covered that the sheep had taken shelter from the wind 
upon the south side of a stone wall, and that the snow had 
drifted to the top of the wall and completely buried many 
of the sheep, from which imprisonment the young men 
liberated them. 

THE GREAT ICE STORM. 

People who were living in Norfolk and vicinity at the 
time, will not soon forget the ice-storm of February 20 to 
22, 1898. The effects of that storm are still plainly seen 
in the broken shade-trees, fruit-trees, and forests, in this 
entire region; many tall young forest trees which were 
then bent to the ground by their load have never raised 
their heads since, and never will. 

The local papers said, ''An ice-storm, the severest in the 
memory of the oldest inhabitants, visited Northwestern 
Connecticut, entailing thousands of dollars loss. Trees 
that are old landmarks, and others, are spoiled for years 
to come, and a great deal of the storm's damage is irrep- 
arable." 

"Twigs an eighth of an inch in diameter had an overcoat 
of ice an inch and a quarter thick." 

"An ice coated twig weighing one and a half pounds, 
minus the ice weighed two ounces." 

"The big elms and fruit trees suffered most. One of the 
big elms split in the middle, one half falling on to the 
town hall." 



1 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 219 



XVIII. 

KILLING A PANTHER IN NORFOLK — TREED BY A BEAR — FIRES IN AND 
NEAR THE MEETING-HOUSE — A THANKSGIVING-DAY WOLF-HUNT. 

Roys, in his chapter of "Incidents," gives the following: 
"In early times a Mr. Barber, father of Capt. Timothy Bar- 
ber, formerly an inhabitant of Norfolk, came from Sims- 
bury with two of his sons, well armed, to traverse a part 
of the town, and coming to a place since called Pine moun- 
tain, they stacked their guns and strolled around and 
ascended the hill in hope of getting a distant view of the 
surrounding country. Mr. Barber stepped into a hole in 
the side of the hill and something shot by him and sprang 
up a tree near him. He did not at first know what it was, 
but sent his youngest son to get their guns. He did not 
find them. Still watching the animal, he sent his oldest 
son, who soon returned with the guns. While waiting he 
perceived that the creature grew very uneasy; twisting 
his tail and changing his position, perhaps with the inten- 
tion of springing upon them. Mr. Barber placed his sons 
each side of him, each having their guns well charged. 
They fired and brought down a large panther, in a condi- 
tion to examine him with safety. Its claws and fangs 
looked frightfully, and they rejoiced that they had escaped 
them, and rid the world of a frightful monster." 

A different version of what is doubtless the same panther 
story, as told the writer by Mr. Norman Riggs, as he had 
heard it when a boy, from old residents in the neighbor- 
hood where the beast was killed, is as follows: "Mr. Bar-' 
ber lived in the South End district, on the road that runs 
from the school-house to Grants. In the early history of 
the town, one Thanksgiving day, Mr. Barber with two 
brothers who had come to visit him, went a hunting. A 
light snow had fallen. 



220 HISTOEY OF NORFOLK. 

Not long after thej started out their dogs came upon 
a large strange looking track which they followed, and 
ran up to Pine mountain, north-west from the present 
residence of Mr. Obadiah Smith. The men followed on, 
and found that their dogs had run or tracked the animal 
into a cave with a small dark entrance on the side of the 
mountain. With characteristic Yankee curiosity and per- 
severance, one of the men proposed to investigate as to 
what that cave contained; so with his gun in his hand he 
made his way into the cave as best he could, by crawling 
upon "all fours," or upon his stomach, in the darkness. 

He had made his way in a little distance when he saw in 
the darkness ahead of him a pair of eyes that gleamed like 
balls of fire, and almost in the same instant the animal 
rushed past him, the passageway being so small that the 
body of the animal as he passed rubbed against the man. 
The dogs and the men outside forthwith treed and shot the 
animal, which was a large panther. This well authenti- 
cated adventure of Mr. Barber, right here in Norfolk," Mr. 
Riggs added, "I always thought fully equal to Gen. Israel 
Putnam's wolf-den story." (This panther evidently in his 
obliging disposition resembled the raccoon that, when 
caught up a tree, is reported to have said: "If that's you 
down there, Davy Crockett, don't fire, — I'll come down.") 

Roys says again: "Mr. Cornelius Brown, one of the early 
settlers of this town, going into the woods some distance 
from his house, was met by a bear who soon prepared to 
spring upon him. Mr. Brown attempted to climb a small 
staddle near him, which proved too slender to support him 
at a safe height from the ground. The bear could, by 
stretching itself, just reach his feet as he clung to the tree. 
The bear badly mangled his heels with his claws and teeth. 
Mr. Brown hallooed for help, and after suffering much 
through fear and from his lacerated feet, help arrived. A 
man hunting in the woods with his dog heard him. The 
dog reached him before his master, and worried the bear, 
and he quit the assault before the man arrived. Mr. Brown, 
glad to part with bruin, was helped home. His wounds 



mSTOEY OF NORFOLK. 221 

were healed, the scars of which were to be seen through 
life." 

''In the early settlement of this town, before the tower- 
ing hemlocks were cleared off the green, west of the meet- 
ing-house, some of them had become dry and easily com- 
bustible, it being a dry season. By some means the leaves 
and dry matter took fire at the north end of the ledge, and 
the north-west wind helping it, it spread rapidly towards 
the meeting-house, climbing the dry hemlocks, and the 
flaming bark and limbs were scattered round and near the 
meeting-house, which was nearly or quite finished The 
inhabitants near the meeting-house were aroused to exer- 
tion, and spread the alarm as far as possible. Help came 
from every quarter. Water was obtained from a well at 
the house where Mr. Giles Pettibone, Jr., formerly lived. 
It was drawn about dry by Mrs. Dudley Humphrey, who did 
not leave the well or stop drawing the water until the 
danger was over. A line was formed from the well to the 
meeting house, of men, women and boys, each forwarding 
the water." 

The present church had a very narrow escape from de- 
struction by fire on the morning of Fast day, 1870. A fire 
had been kindled in the wood stoves then in use, in prepa- 
ration for the Fast day service, and the janitor went away. 
The stoves stood under the front gallery, just at either 
side of the center doors, the pipes running through the 
partitions into the vestibule at the foot of the stairs, and 
thence under the galleries to the chimneys at the west end 
of the building. The woodwork above the stove-pipe took 
fire, and when discovered the fire was burning all along the 
front gallery between the ceiling and the gallery floor. Most 
fortunately a cross-beam about under the front of the organ 
fills the space entirely between the floor and the ceiling 
below, and so had prevented the fire from spreading back 
under the entire gallery, and thence up into the steeple. The 
front seat and the floor were torn up, and with water 
brought from the same old well mentioned above, the fire 
was extinguished. 



222 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

The following wolf-hunt is quoted from Roys: — "In 1787 
a circumstance occurred which from its novelty and the 
rare sport it afforded may well be noticed in this place. 
While the congregation was assembled and devoutly en- 
gaged in celebrating the annual thanksgiving, the speaker 
having commenced his sermon, a messenger entered the 
house and with a firm and manly step walked partly up 
the middle aisle, with his eye fixed on the speaker, full of 
meaning and intelligence. The speaker paused, and he 
informed the crowded assembly that five wolves, a dog and 
slut with three pups, now almost full grown, were now on 
Haystack mountain, partly surrounded by men already col- 
lected, and that more men were wanted to assist in destroy- 
ing them. The speaker replied he thought it a duty for 
every man to turn out and combat these invaders. Immedi- 
ately a great part of the male members of the congrega- 
tion rose from their seats and flew to the scene of action. 
A line was formed round the mountain, distributing at 
proper distances those who were supplied with guns and 
ammunition, and the whole circle was directed by leaders 
emulous to excel. The line gradually contracted as they 
ascended the mountain on every side, silent and cautious, 
until the files were nearly closed. The ravenous invaders 
now appeared in rapid flight, coming towards the line. The 
clubs and pitchforks were raised, the guns elevated in mar- 
tial form, the balls whizzed, and part of the wolves were 
killed on the spot; the remainder rushed to the opposite 
section of the line, where they met their fate, except the 
dog-wolf, who, frightened and enraged, rushed through the 
line, clubs, pitchforks and guns notwithstanding. But the 
steady and well-aimed firearms soon stopped him, filling 
his body with balls, not counted until more at leisure. They 
were all brought down into the village in triumph, and 
exhibited to a numerous collection of people. Many who 
dispensed with their usual Thanksgiving feast around the 
firesides of their quiet homes were seen gratifying their 
sight rather than their appetites." 

For many years prior and subsequent to 1815, at the 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 223 

annual town meeting, it was ''voted to give a bounty of 
|2.00 to any person who shall kill a wild cat in the limits 
of this town." Later the bounty was raised to |3.00 and 
then to 15.00 on a wild cat, they were so destructive of 
sheep, and 50 cents bounty on a fox. 



XIX. 

THE MANUFACTURES AND MANUFACTURERS OF THE TOWN, FROM ITS 
SETTLEMENT DOWN TO DATE. 

In his Litchfield County Centennial address of 1851, 
Judge Samuel Church said: 

"The pioneers here were agriculturists. They came with 
no knowledge or care for any other pursuit, and 
looked for no greater results than the enjoyment of re- 
ligious privileges, the increase of their estates by removing 
the heavy forests and adding other acres to their original 
purchase, and with the hope, perhaps, of sending an active 
boy to the college. Of manufactures they knew nothing. 
The grist-mill and saw-mill, the blacksmith and clothier's 
shops, — all as indispensable as the plow and the axe, — they 
provided for as among the necessaries of a farmer's life. 

Thus they toiled on, till the hillsides and the valleys 
everywhere showed the fenced field and the comfortable 
dwelling. 

The spinning wheel was in every house, and the loom in 
every neighborhood, and almost every article of clothing 
was the product of female domestic industry." 

Probably very few of the generation now in active life 
really comprehend the fact that in the days of their grand- 
fathers and grandmothers every house, with scarcely an 
exception, in this as in every community, was to a degree 
a manufactory. That has been called by Dr. Horace Bush- 
nell the "Homespun Age." Nearly every article of dress for 
man and woman, boy and girl, was made in the home, and 
that not from material purchased at a store, but the ma- 



224 mSTOEY OF NORFOLK. 

terial itself had first to be made from the wool, just as it 
came from the sheep's back, and from the flax, as it was 
grown by the farmer, and made partially ready by him for 
the wheel and loom. The wife, the mother, the sister, the 
daughter, must each one be an expert at cleansing and 
scouring the wool, carding, spinning, reeling, doubling, 
twisting and dyeing the yarn, preparing the warp and the 
woof, weaving the cloth, to be fulled or shrunk, and dressed 
at the fulling mill for the men and boys' wear, — preparing 
also a finer grade of yarn from which flannel was to be 
woven for a variety of uses, including flannel sheets for the 
beds of the entire household for winter. Spinning and pre- 
paring yarn for knitting the stockings and the mittens, 
either of wool or flax, for all the family. The flax, after it 
was made ready, must be spun into yarn and woven into 
linen cloth, of a great variety of kinds, for different uses. 

Then the farmer must take to the tanner the cowhides 
and the kip skins to be tanned and dressed into the heavy 
leather for the men's and boys' boots, and the calf-skins, 
to make Sunday boots for the men and the fine shoes for 
women's wear; the deer and sheep-skins and skins of 
various wild animals which then abounded here, for leather 
for a variety of uses. 

When the material was all made ready, if for any reason 
the good housewife was not able to be the tailoress for the 
entire family, a professional tailoress and seamstress was 
called in to help for a little. The shoemaker came also 
and plied his trade, "whipping the cat," it was called, mak- 
ing boots and shoes for the entire family. The women of 
those days, young and old, our grandmothers, had their 
pleasures, their recreations, their excitements in quiltings, 
apple-parings, spelling-matches, corn-huskings, singing- 
school and the like, thus breaking the monotony of a cease- 
less round of toil; and surely they were better contented 
with their lot because they were useful, and better satisfied 
with life than some women of today, who have nothing to 
do but — to look pretty and be entertained. Our grand- 
mothers, indeed, could not make a "century run" on a 



I 



HISTOKY OF NORFOLK. 225 

bicj'cle, which glorious achievement of one or two women 
has been heralded over the whole world, but most of them 
could make some "runs" on their spinning-wheels. 

Jn the History of Goshen there is an account of a "spin- 
ning match" in that town, which is of interest. "This was 
a trial among the ladies of Goshen to see which could excel 
in spinning linen on a one-handed wheel. It is supposed 
to have taken place about 1770. The understanding was 
that each might spin 24 hours, and be helped to reel yarn, 
etc. The struggle was extensive through the town, but not 
all upon the same day. It seems to have been first tried 
among the married, then among the unmarried ladies. The 
wife of Capt. Isaac Pratt seems to have excelled among 
the married ladies. Her husband prepared her distaffs and 
reeled her yarn till she made six runs. In this stage of the 
business the husband very prudently put his veto upon 
further proceedings and remained inflexible. The poor 
woman sat down and cried. 

"Several others did well. The wife of Stephen Tuttle 
made five runs, several others four runs. 

But Lydia Beach of East street excelled them all. Her 
distaffs were all prepared, her yarn reeled, and even her 
food put in her mouth. She spun from daylight until nine 
o'clock in the evening, and her yarn showed seven runs, 
equal to 3 1-2 days' work. 

The sequel of the story is that Jesse Buell, eldest son of 
Captain Jonathan Buell, became enamored of the maiden 
and took her to himself, after which she became the mother 
of three sons and five daughters." 

We take up now manufactures in a more public or com- 
mercial sense. From the earliest days of the town's his- 
tory a large number of manufacturing enterprises have 
been started here, some of them have for a time seemed to 
fulfill the expectations of the projctors, but a large number 
have ended to a greater or less degree disastrously, but 
possibly not a greater proportion have failed here than else- 
where. Statistics show that fully ninety per cent, of those 
also who enter mercantile life fail. 



226 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

In view of the date, given below, when the first grist-mill 
was built and put into operation in the town (in 1759), the 
following quotation from Roys of a scene at a much later 
date can only be understood of families living in the south, 
or in the north part of the town, if, indeed, it is not alto- 
gether imaginary. He says: "In the hard winter of 1779 
or 1780, the extreme cold and great body of snow in that 
season made it necessary for many families to go quite a 
distance and out of town to get grinding. They took the 
following method: The father or one of his robust sons 
put say half a bushel of grain in a sack, tied on his snow- 
shoes, and thus accoutered, with his dinner in the sack's 
mouth, commenced his walk down to Jacob Beach's mill in 
the hither part of Goshen, or the one in the northeast part 
of the town. Follow in imagination the pedestrian-adven- 
turer lopeing across the fields and over fences to cut short 
his way, avoiding in his route the shin-bush, which would 
as certainly trip him up or throw him down as the modern 
tangle-legs, and he could not lie so quietly and doze until 
the encumbrance was removed. No, he must manage to 
unharness his snow-shoes and get rid of that encumbrance 
before he could hope to free himself from the snow which 
almost covered him, and again take an erect position. If 
no other hindrance happened he returned the same way 
with his flour. Meanwhile the good housewife would boil 
part of their grain as a substitute for bread, — a fine treat 
for the children, surrounding the blazing fire composed of 
large wood, urged in by the lever, or in some instances 
dragged in by a horse. Fine winter evenings of olden 
times." 

Possibly the extreme cold weather and snow in that 
"hard winter" prevented the grist-mill from being run for 
a time. 

Benoni Moses was one of the earliest settlers of the 
town, and it is probable at least that he left the town 
previous to its incorporation. December 2, 1755, Benoni 
Moses conveyed to Joshua Whitney of Canaan, for £800, 
"One hundred acres of common land in Norfolk, which be- 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 227 

longs to the right of Cornelius Brown, which now lies in 
common with the rest of the proprietors, . . . together 
with ye house on which I now dwell, and what improve- 
ments I now have. Also one-quarter part of ye saw-mill, 
with one-quarter part of all the utensils belonging to the 
same; which mill stands between my house and Leftenant 
Samuel Gaylord's; known by ye name of Brown's saw-mill." 

Doubtless the first use of the water-power in this town 
was to run the saw-mill, which Cornelius Brown built, not 
later than 1750, a little above the grist-mill site, — about 
the north side of the bridge, as at present. 

The matter of next importance was the building of a 
grist-mill, that the early settlers might have their rye, buck- 
wheat or wheat ground into flour and their Indian corn into 
meal. In 1756, when there were but a few families settled 
in the town, the proprietors appointed a committee "to lay 
out so much common land as they shall judge needful for 
the use of a mill, and also what land they shall think fit for 
to build a' grist-mill on." 

In 1757 the grist-mill site, as it was called, was "granted 
to Joshua Whitney, in case he should build and maintain 
a good and sufficient grist-mill, and be ready for business 
by September 1st of that year. Whitney commenced to 
build but was not able to finish at the specified time. His 
time was by vote extended. Later he sold the privilege to 
Abel Phelps, and by vote of the proprietors the 'same grant 
was confirmed to Phelps, if said Phelps shall finish said 
mill and give suitable attendance, as said Whitney was to 
give, and have the same done by ye first day of July, 1759.' 

The grist-mill having been provided, the next question 
in this line which seems to have interested the public mind 
was building an iron works. This subject had indeed been 
agitated earlier, as we find that at a proprietors' meeting in 
May, 1757, there was "appointed a committee of three to 
look into the affair of a place for iron works in Norfolk." 

The various votes of the proprietors, granting land as 
encouragement to the persons who w^ould build an iron 
works, manufacture iron and maintain the business for 
fifteen years, are given in another chapter. 



228 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

At a proprietors' meeting May 7, 1760, it was "voted that 
we do accept the report of Benajah Douglas and George 
Palmer this day made respecting building iron works, and 
establish their doings respecting leasing ye said works to 
Samuel Forbes." 

January 18, 1763, they ''Voted, To give all our right to 
a certain piece of land lying near the mouth of the Great 
Pond toward the northeast part of the township of Norfolk 
... to him or them who will build a good iron works in 
said Norfolk and have lit to make iron by January 15, 1765." 

September 19, 1766, "Voted, That whereas, Capt. Daniel 
Lawrence, Jr., Thomas Day and Samuel Ransom did all 
and each of them become bound to the proprietors of Nor- 
folk in the penal sum of £500, lawful money, that they 
would build a good iron works in said Norfolk somewhere 
near the Great Pond, so called, in Norfolk, and to have them 
fit to make iron by January 15, 1765, now we vote and agree 
that we will not ask nor sue said Lawrence and others upon 
said bond for the space of five years after said date." This 
is the last entry in the proprietors' records regarding iron 
works. 

In his Centennial Address at Litchfield in 1851, Judge 
Church said: "'The manufacture of bloomed iron in the 
region of the ore commenced before the organization of the 
County. Thomas Lamb erected a forge at Lime Rock, in 
Salisbury, as early as 1734, — probably the first in the 
Colony. This experiment was soon extensively followed in 
Salisbury, Canaan, Cornwall and Kent, and there were 
forges erected also in Norfolk, Colebrook and Litchfield. 
The ore was often transported from the ore beds to the 
forge in leathern sacks, upon horses. Bar iron became here 
a sort of circulating medium, and promissory notes were 
more frequently made payable in iron than in money. The 
first furnace in the Colony was built at Lakeville, in Salis- 
bury, in 1762, by John Hazelton and Ethan Allen of Salis- 
bury and Samuel Forbes of Canaan. This property fell into 
the hands of Richard Smith, an English gentleman, a little 
before the war of the Revolution. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 229 

Upon this event he returned to England, and the state 
took possession of the furnace, and it was employed, under 
the agency of Col. Joshua Porter, in the manufacture of 
cannon, shells and shot, for the use of the army and navy 
of the country, and sometimes under the supervision of 
Governeur Morris and John Jay, agents of the Continental 
Congress; and after the war, the navy of the United States 
received, to a considerable extent, the guns for its heaviest 
ships from the same establishment." 

It is evident that at least Mr. Thomas Day, mentioned 
above, was engaged in building and operating an iron 
works here in town, but not in the vicinity of the Great 
Pond. Just the date of the completion of the works and of 
the beginning of the manufacture of iron does not appear, 
but it was probably before 1770. 

As to the location of the iron works of Mr. Day, it is given 
with much precision in some papers of Dr. Eldridge's, which 
were written, at his request, as referred to elsewhere, by 
Dea. James Mars, who says: — "East of where the woolen 
factory of Earl P. Pease stood, the factory that was burnt, 
against Mr. Corbally's blacksmith shop, on the south side 
of the river, was a forge where they made iron from ore 
that was brought from Salisbury. Mr. Thomas Day and 
brother had the forge. The father was an old man and lived 
on the lot west of the present Methodist meeting-house. 
His son lived near the bridge on the turnpike road. Some 
of Mr, Day's descendants are living here, Mr. Henry J. Holt 
and Miss Harriet Holt." 

The following from the Norfolk land records may throw 
a little light upon this question of the iron works: 

July 11, 17G8, Captain Abraham Camp, for a considera- 
tion of £19, deeded to Samuel Pettibone, ''The one-half of 
the land which I, the said Camp, bought of Brotherton Sea- 
ward, where the iron works stand. The whole of said land 
as undivided is bounded northerly, beginning at a stake and 
stones on the highway that goes from Giles Pettibone's to 
the meeting-house; thence southerly in line of said highway 
ten rods, crossing Haystack brook to a heap of stones about 



230 HISTOEY OF NORFOLK. 

fifteen feet south of said brook; thence westerly in the line 
of Justus Gaylord's land and part of the land belonging to 
those that own the grist-mill, about twenty rods; thence 
southerly about fifteen rods to a stake and stones, a corner 
of Thomas Curtiss' land; thence about twenty rods in the 
line of said Curtiss' land to a heap of stones; thence north- 
erly to the river, crossing the river in the line of Giles Petti- 
bone's land to the first bounds, be it more or less, with one- 
eighth part of the iron works and cole-house thereon stand- 
ing; with the utensils thereof, with all the privileges and 
appurtenances thereunto belonging, unto the said Samuel 
Pettibone." 

Mention is made in the chapter concerning the Revolu- 
tionary war of an immense chain that was at one time 
stretched across the Hudson river from shore to shore, in- 
tended (but failed) to prevent the British from sending their 
ships up the river. The writer has been told that a part of 
that immense chain, the links of which were not less than 
one foot in length, made of bar-iron, were made at the iron 
works here in Norfolk, and that at the forge at Lake Wan- 
gum, on Canaan Mountain, the Hanchetts made another 
section of that chain. 

A word more regarding the location of the old Forge or 
'Iron Works.' Mr. Joseph W. Cone, a native and life-long 
resident of the town, remembers the old building, and says 
it stood exactly on the site of the "Shear Shop" of these 
modern days. 

Of the methods used here in making iron from the ore, it 
is said that it was sometimes called "the sinking process," 
producing a form of malleable iron direct from the ore, 
without passing through the stage of fused pig iron. The 
"Catalan Forge," as it was called, is described as a "variety 
of 'bloomery,' being a typical development of the earliest 
crude apparatus for extracting iron from its ores. In prin- 
ciple these forges may be considered as a more or less en- 
larged blacksmith's, or ordinary rivetting forge, in the bed 
of which are placed together the ore to be reduced and the 
fuel, which was hardwood charcoal; the stone bottom cov- 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 231 

ered over with a 'brasque' of charcoal powder rammed 
down; the blast being applied partly by the direct action 
of the carbon, partly by the carbon oxide generated. The 
iron ore is gradually reduced to a spongy mass of metal, 
which by stirring is gradually agglutinated into a ball, 
which is removed and worked into bars or blooms. The 
Catalan Forges of the south of Europe are usually of 
such dimensions as hold from three to ten hundredweight 
of ore." 

Iron was doubtless the first article manufactured for 
sale in this town, except possibly lumber and flour. Dea. 
Mars says: ''The dam for an oil mill was just where the 
grist-mill dam now is, the mill being a little below." There 
was another oil-mill, perhaps at a little later date, down on 
Blackberry river, that stood very near the dam of the long 
stone Hoe, or Axle shop. These mills were for the extrac- 
tion of the oil from Flax-seed, and for a time doubtless did 
quite a business. One of the large stones used at the mill 
last mentioned for grinding the flax-seed is permanently 
preserved in a prominent place, being the round horse-block 
between the church and the chapel, where it has already 
done duty for fifty years, and seems to be good, if required, 
for centuries to come. 

Having mentioned the oil-mill just above the grist-mifl 
site, Dea. Mars says: "We approach the bridge east. 
West, and near the bridge, on the south side of the road, 
was a fulling mill, where they fulled cloth for men's wear. 
A few rods east was a shop where the cloth was dressed. 
Mr. Stephen Paine worked it. On the other side of the 
road was a saw-mill and a grist-mill." 

Of other manufacturers of home necessities, of which 
there were several operating in a small way, I would men- 
tion the tanners and curriers of leather, some of whom 
combined in a small or larger way the manufacture of boots 
and shoes, made only to order. One of these was Mr. Na- 
thaniel Pease, mentioned elsewhere, "who carried on boot 
and shoe-making extensively for those days, frequently em- 
ploying ten or twelve men." 



232 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

The process of tanning in those days was somewhat slow, 
using as they did oak-bark, the use of hemlock for tanning 
not then being known. They used cold liquor (for tanning) 
entirely, from one to four years being considered necessary 
to properly tan the heaviest leather. 

Other tanners and curriers of leather were Owen Brown, 
for a few years, mentioned elsewhere; Levi Thompson, 
Samuel Trescott, who preceded Mr. Levi Shepard, and a 
number of others, most of them operating only in a. small 
way. 

Another most necessary class of artizans in those days 
were called the blacksmiths. The humiliation and chagrin 
of some of the generation now on earth has been expressed 
in this way: "Why must you, whenever you mention my 
grandfather, always find it necessary to add, 'he was a 
blacksmith?'" Let such be forever comforted with the 
assurance that these artists in iron were manufacturers of 
builders' hardware, etc., all the nails, the hinges, the han- 
dles, the latches, the catches, the locks, the bolts, etc., 
necessary to build and finish a house having been made in 
their manufactories, as well as many useful and necessary 
articles for the household, all the agricultural implements 
for the farmers, most of the tools of the carpenter and 
other mechanics, and numerous other articles. One of 
these artizans named Canfield had his plant near where the 
Norfolk Bank Building stands, in the early days. Mr. Asa 
Foot was planted at the corner of Greenwoods road and 
Maple avenue. On Beech Flats Captain Benjamin Bigelow 
was for those days an extensive manufacturer of hand- 
wrought nails, and introduced the first machine in this 
region for making cut-nails, which were not looked upon 
with favor. A half mile farther east was located one of the 
important iron manufacturers and prominent men of the 
town. Mr. Hopestill Welch had his residence between the 
two roads, but a short distance east of the Pond Hill school- 
house, his shop being located upon the north side of the 
Colebrook road, not far distant. Mr. Welch was able not 
only to conduct successfully his manufacturing business, 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 233 

but also to serve his town and the state as a soldier in the 
French war, and later in the war of the Revolution, and 
this in addition to rearing a noble family of three sons and 
ten daughters, mentioned at length elsewhere, many of the 
descendants of whom have been and still are among the 
most distinguished and honored natives of the town during 
its entire history. 

Mr. Vine Welch, a son of Hopestill Welch, had for a time 
a blacksmith shop, and his house, near where Johnson's 
drug store now stands. Mr. Welch after a few years emi- 
grated west. 

There was a "potashery" in the early days near where 
the "Village Hall" now stands, run, it is said, for many 
years by Esq. Battelle in connection with his store, thus 
making a market for wood-ashes. 

One of the earliest manufacturing industries in the town 
was the Woolen Factory, started by Mr. Earl P. Pease, a 
native of the town. In November, 1805, Silas Hills deeded 
"to Earl P. Pease 4 acres of land on the east side of the 
turnpike, bounded north on Giles Pettibone and south on 
Benjamin Welch, with my dwelling house; and one other 
piece, with buildings, and carding machines, tools and priv- 
ileges." He built first a small factory by the side of the 
turnpike, across the stream from where the large Woolen 
Factory was built later, which he operated for a number of 
years. This was probably burned and a larger factory built. 

Mr, John H. Bennett says: "Mr. Pease had the first card- 
ing machine and cloth dressing works in Norfolk. The wool 
was received and cleansed and carded, then taken home 
and spun and woven, and the cloth returned to be dyed and 
napped and pressed. This home-made cloth was very 
durable, in general use, as good as any made in this country, 
but would not be called handsome in these days. The first 
carding machines were imported, very expensive, with 
hardly any resemblance to the ones now in use. A part 
of the foundation of the old Pease factory is still there." 
He manufactured a fine broadcloth and fulled cloths. 

From the records it is apparent that Mr. Pease operated 



234 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

quite extensively for those days. His factory was burned 
twice, at least. He became financially embarrassed, was 
helped over this hard place by some of his well-to-do towns- 
men, rebuilt and continued his business for several years 
again, and finally gave up the struggle. Between the years 
1814 and 1818 several conveyances of real estate were made 
to Mr. Pease in connection with his business of manufac- 
turing. In December, 1818, in a mortgage deed given by 
Mr. Pease to Nathaniel Stevens and Joseph Battell, mention 
is made of the land on the east side of the turnpike, the 
dwelling house in which I live and the shop adjoining, the 
land leased to me by Lemuel Akins; another piece lying on 
the turnpike, with fulling-mill, carding-mill, cloth-shops, 
dye-houses, tools, etc. This mortgage was cancelled in 
May, 1821. 

In July, 1822, a mortgage was given to Wm. H. Imlay of 
Hartford, to secure notes payable at the Hartford Bank, 
upon the woolen-factory and machinery, clothing-shop, 
tools, water privileges, dwelling houses, land, etc. "Said 
property is now under mortgage to Joseph Battell." 

January 18, 1823, Mr. Pease assigned to Messrs. Augustus 
Pettibone, Michael F. Mills and Salmon Pease of Canaan, 
"Grantees in trust of my estate, for the purpose of paying 
certain debts," the property already mentioned being speci- 
fied; also "a piece of land on Ragged mountain, so called," 
etc. 

His business matters seem to have been satisfactorily 
adjusted, and he went on again. In February, 1825, Mr. 
Pease gave a mortgage to Augustus Pettibone and Michael 
F. Mills, "upon the new fulling mill about ten rods below 
my woolen factory on the same stream," etc. 

Just how long Mr. Pease continued manufacturing woolen 
goods does not clearly appear. June 30, 1833, Mr. Wm. H. 
Imlay of Hartford deeded to Wm. R. Slade and John J. 
Fenn of Hartford the woolen factory, fulling-mill, buildings, 
dwellings, privileges, implements of every kind thereto be- 
longing, etc., in Norfolk, taking a mortgage upon all the 
property. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 235 

July, 1834, there was an additional mortgage put upon 
the machinery, etc., in the factory; a partial list of the 
articles enumerated is of interest, showing as it does some- 
thing of the extent of the plant, viz., ''Three double carding 
machines. One jack of 160 spindles. One picker. Six 
power-looms. Two teazling gigs. Three shearing machines. 
One brusher. One clothier's press. One steamer. 7,000 
bobbins, etc., etc., all of which articles are in the third story 
of our factory building. One fulling-mill. One Indigo- 
mill. Two blue dye vats. Copper and iron kettles. One 
turning-lathe and tools; carpenter's shop and tools being 
under the same roof as the dye-house. One bell and light- 
ning-rod on said factory, etc." 

Messrs Slade and Fenn continued the business about two 
years. July 30, 1835, they quit-claimed absolutely all right, 
title and interest in and to the woolen factory property in 
Norfolk to Mr. Imlay. 

For some time, probably about two years, Lawrence and 
Swift operated the Woolen Factory, manufacturing cloth, 
it is said. It does not appear from the records that they 
purchased or owned the woolen factory property, and prob- 
ably they leased the entire plant from some of the former 
owners, the assignees, mortgagees or others. Mr. E. Grove 
Lawrence and Mr. James C. Swift composed the firm. They 
built a store on the 'Flatiron,' as it was called, conducted it 
for some time, sold it, built the old Ryan store, carried on 
business there for a time and sold that out to the Ryans, as 
is elsewhere mentioned. 

September 29, 1836, Mr. Wm. H. Imlay of Hartford 
deeded the woolen factory property, the fulling-mills, all 
machinery, etc., to John Ryan, Edward E. Ryan and 
Matthew Ryan of Norfolk, and Charles Ryan of Dudley, 
Mass., who formed the firm of J. & E. E. Ryan & Co. After 
a few conveyances of land, dwelling houses, etc., made soon 
after to ''The Ryans," as they were called, Mr. Imlay dis- 
appeared from the scene. 

July 7, 1840, Mr. Warren Cone, who had been a manu- 
facturer of scythes for several years, as is mentioned else- 



236 HISTORY OF XORFOLK. 

where, conveyed to Willard Button his scj'the shop, build- 
ings and land, bounded by the Forge privilege, the Mill 
privilege, etc. This property v^^as conveyed in 1841 by Mr. 
Dutton to Mr. Wm. P. Judd, who seems to have changed 
it to a "tan-house," and in 1843 Mr. Judd and Mr. E. Grove 
Lawrence conveyed the property to J. & E. E. Ryan & Co., 
who changed it into a dye-house. 

In January, 1841, Mr, Theodore Gains conveyed to J. & 
E. E. Ryan & Co. one acre of land beginning at the N. W. 
corner of the home farm of Lemuel Akins, deceased, in line 
of the Greenwoods turnpike, with the timber, lumber and 
saw-mill frame and fixtures, water-wheel, etc. 'The above 
land and premises is the same I purchased of Sylvester 
Bradley.' 

For twenty years or more the Ryans did a large business 
manufacturing broadcloths, satinets, cassimeres and woolen 
goods of various descriptions, mostly for the southern 
trade. They were enterprising business men, and excellent 
citizens, who did much for the town in helping business of 
all kinds, giving employment to a large number of men and 
women, making a market for lumber, wood, wool and all 
kinds of farmers' produce. About 1850 they built the large 
four-story factory building upon the site now occupied by 
the Aetna Silk Company's Mill. To secure a reservoir of 
water for an emergency, they obtained by purchase from 
A. & S. Tibbals and others the right to Tobey Pond, built 
and strengthened the dam there, and improved the natural 
water course from Tobey to their own mill pond. Soon after 
coming here they bought out the store of Lawrence and 
Swift, where they conducted a large mercantile business, 
Mr. Matthew Ryan being the merchant, and with his son 
Charles continued that branch of the business several years 
after the factory was shut down, until their death. Mr. 
John Ryan was the financier and business manager, being 
ably seconded by Mr. Edward E. Ryan, who was the active 
outside man and general agent. Financial embarrassments 
came upon the firm a few years prior to the breaking out 
of the civil war. The firm was broken up about the be- 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 237 

ginning of the year 1S57. Mr. John Ryan, who was an 
educated man and true gentleman, soon left town, and 
went into the practice of the law in Illinois, where he was 
quite successful. Mr. Edward E. Ryan returned to Massa- 
chusetts and soon afterward went West. When the latter 
was about leaving town he said to a friend: "I have spent 
twenty of the best years of my life in Norfolk; have used 
my best efforts in business, and leave the town poorer by 
several thousands of dollars than when I came here a young 
man." 

Upon the breaking up of the firm of J. & E. E. Ryan & 
Go., the 'Norfolk Woolen Company' was organized, with an 
advertised capital of $73,000. A. A. Lane of New York 
was President; T. Ransom of Bridgeport, Treasurer; 
Matthew Ryan of Norfolk, Secretary, This Company did 
some business for a time, but not long after was broken up, 
and the property passed into the hands of outside parties. 
The large factory building and machinery had stood idle 
for many months, was kept insured, and just as the war 
broke out in the spring of 1861 the factory was burned by 
an incendiary fire unquestionably; and forthwith there was 
work for every woolen factory in the country, day and 
night. 

The next water privilege on the stream below was first 
used about 1830 by Jonathan Kilbourn, w^ho had previously 
been in business in Colebrook, his native place. He put in 
a carding machine and made from the wool "rolls," as they 
were called, from which women spun yarn for knitting, and 
the yarn which they wove into cloth on hand looms. This 
cloth was then taken to Mr. Kilbourn's factory, dyed, fulled, 
dressed and finished. About 1840 the carding of rolls and 
spinning of yarn by women on hand wheels began to be 
superseded by the spinning jack, which spun yarn for 
hand-knitting. In about 1843 Mr. Kilbourn and his son 
Henry put in a spinning jack and power looms, made yarn 
and satinet, and, as mentioned elsewhere, also made wooden 
bowls. Other enterprises started at this place are men- 
tioned below. Blackberry River furnished the power for 



238 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

running machinery, and must have been a more permanent 
stream then than recently, before the heavy timber in the 
valleys and on the hills had been cut off. Large wooden 
over-shot wheels were used, which furnished at that time 
ample power. 

The first iron wheel in town was put in for the Norfolk 
Manufacturing Company in 1852, in the stone building now 
owned and used by the Hosiery Company, and was liked 
so well that others put in iron when their wooden wheels 
gave out. Now there is not a wooden water wheel in any 
building on the stream. 

"About the middle of the century textile manufacturing 
seemed to increase, and yarn made in factories for hand 
knitting became so plenty and cheap that the old-fashioned 
hand spinning wheel was laid aside with the hand weaving 
looms, and nearly all cloth and yarn was made in the fac- 
tories. Machine knitting had not then come into general 
use, and fashioned hosiery was hardly known, being knit 
on hand frames, and too expensive for general use." 

Several companies were formed in this town for the pur- 
pose of manufacturing, subsequent to 1850, most of which 
had a rather brief existence. 

Some of these companies were: 'The Norfolk Manufac- 
turing Company,' organized 1852, for the manufacture of 
Cotton Warp, Knitting Cotton and Wrapping Twine; John 
J. Hinchman, President; Joseph K. Kilbourne, Secretary. 
The stone mill, long owned and occupied by the Hosiery 
Company, was built in 1852 by Mr. Hinchman, who was a 
prominent man in the Hosiery Co. 

'The Welaka Company,' organized 1854, capital $15,000. 
Manufacturers of Woolen Yarn; William W. Welch, Presi- 
dent; Orlo J. Wolcott, Secretary. In 1857 John K. Shepard 
was President and S. G. Bird Secretary. The two concerns 
last named operated at the old Kilbourn stand. The We- 
laka Company failed and their property was sold at auction 
to Porter, Butler & Co. in 1858. 

John H. Welch & Company, organized 1854, capital 
|4,000. Manufacturers of Cotton Hosiery, Wrappers, 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 239 

Drawers, etc. This concern operated some hand machines 
for a time in the old gambrel roofed Welch house, and did 
the first machine knitting ever done in this town. 

'The Lawrence Machine Company, organized 1854, capi- 
tal 125,000.' This company built the long stone shop which 
was afterward used for various purposes, and a large foun- 
dry; they put in this shop the second largest overshot water 
wheel in the country, it was said, it being 42 feet in diam- 
eter. These buildings exhausted the capital of the com- 
pany. The stockholders doubled their stock in 1856 and 
organized as the Empire Company, capital |50,000. Manu- 
facturers of Planters' Hoes, Machinery and Castings of 
every description. Egbert T. Butler, President; Nathaniel 
B. Stevens, Secretary, Treasurer and Agent. 

In the "Norfolk Almanac," "for the year of our Lord 
1856," "published for S. D. Northway Mfg. Company," was 
the following article: 

"Lawrence Machine Company. Capital |2o,000. Estab- 
lished 1854. E. Ct. Lawrence, President; N. B. Stevens, Sec- 
retary and Treasurer; A. J. Elwell, Agent. Directors: E. 
G. Lawrence, Aaron Keyes, O. B. Butler, J. K. Shepard, 
A. A. Spaulding, E. D. Lawrence, N. B. Stevens, A. J. 
Elwell. This establishment was built the past season, in 
the most thorough manner, of beautiful grey granite, quar- 
ried from the surrounding hills. 

The main building is 233 feet long by 40 wide, one and 
one-half stories high, with an attic of one story, and wheel 
house attached 80 by 20; pattern house 22 by 40. A shop 
for wood work 40 by 70, three stories high, and the whole 
propelled by a water wheel 43 feet in diameter. They are 
engaged in the manufacture of Machinery and Castings, of 
every description. Also Wagon and Car Axles, Trip Ham- 
mers, Saw-Mill Cranks, Ship Irons, etc., and in almost every 
article in the line of Machinery made of Wood or Iron. This 
establishment enjoys unusual facilities for doing work 
prompt and well, and on the most favorable terms. Orders 
are respectfully solicited." 

Norfolk, October 1, 1855. 



240 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

'N. B. Stevens &Co.,' organized in 1853, had their works 
on what was then named 'Patmos Island,' by some Spirit- 
ualists, and the name still remains. A flourishing business 
in the manufacture of Planters' Hoes was done on Patmos 
Island, and later in connection with the Empire Co. Quite 
a little village sprang up, a flourishing store was carried 
on there for a few years, but the breaking out of the civil 
war in 1861 put a speedy end to this business on Patmos 
Island and in the Stone shop a little farther up the stream. 
Further mention of Planters' Hoes will be found near the 
end of this chapter. 

Not long after the breaking out of the war a company 
was formed, and through the effort and influence of Dr. 
William W. Welch a contract from the U. S. government 
was secured for the manufacture of Springfield muskets 
for the government, the work being done i>i the long stone 
shop of the Empire Company, but it did not prove a great 
financial success. The first Government contract for Spring- 
field muskets was satisfactory. A second contract, when 
guns were plenty with the Government, was not satisfac- 
tory. For a time after the war the manufacture of revolv- 
ing pistols was carried on by the same company, which was 
called "The Connecticut Arms Company," with about the 
same result. Still later this fine plant and water-power 
was used by the 'Hartford Spring and Axle Company' for 
several years, but at length they abandoned the place, 
moved their machinery to Dunkirk. N. Y., and the fine plant 
is unused, and going to decay. 

Mr. Augustus Roys and Augustus Smith in South Norfolk 
started about 1835 and carried on a tanning business, tan- 
ning heavy leather. After the death of his father in 1842, 
Harlow Roys continued the business and erected a large 
building, tanning principally sheep-skins, building up quite 
a large business. A flourishing village, with a large general 
store, Post-Office, etc., sprang up in that locality. Mr. Roys 
furnished an Omnibus every Sunday to carry to church at 
the centre those from South Norfolk who wished to attend 
church who had not teams, and the omnibus was usually 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 241 

loaded. In 1855 'The S, D. Northway Manufacturing Com- 
pany' was organized; Capital, |25,000; some Waterbury 
men being interested in the Company, and succeeded Mr. 
Roys, who went to New York in business. This concern 
advertised as 'Manufacturers of and dealers in all kinds 
of Leather. Depot, 38 Spruce St., N. Y.; S. D. Northway, 
President; Myron Perry, Secretary,' The business of the 
company seemed to flourish for a short time. Their large 
tannery was burned about 1856 and rebuilt, but not long 
afterward they went into a decline, and nearly every vestige 
or sign of their business, their buildings, and of the village 
even, has disappeared. 

To show the contrast between South Norfolk as it is in 
1900, and as it was in 1856, forty-four years ago, when the 
large tannery was in operation there, when there were en- 
terprising, well-to-do farmers on all sides, and a thriving 
village had sprung up there, having a flourishing store, 
Post-Office, etc., the following advertisement of 1856 is 
inserted: "S. D. Northway M'fg. Co., South Norfolk, Conn., 
Manufacturers of Book-binders, Suspender, Pocket-book, 
Piano-Forte, Trunk, and Boot and Shoe Maker's Leather. 
Depot, 38 Spruce Street, New York. Also dealers in all 
kinds of Dry-Goods, Groceries, Hardware, Boots and Shoes, 
Hats and Caps, Crockery, Flour and Provisions, Varnishes, 
Fluid and Phosgene, etc., etc. 

Their stock of Dry Goods is complete, and they do not 
mean to be undersold by their neighbors. Among their 
stock of Groceries may be found Sugars, as cheap as the 
cheapest. Teas, black and green. Coffee, ground, burnt 
and unburnt. Spices of all kinds; Molasses and Stewart's 
Syrup that is all right; Pork by the barrel and pound; Fish 
of various kinds; good old Cider Vinegar, etc., etc. 

Also Flour, Meal and Feed kept constantly on hand, and 
for sale low for Cash, and Cash only. Cheese, butter, pork, 
poultry, Eggs, etc., wanted, for which the highest market 
price will be paid. 

N. B. Particular attention paid to filling orders for Eng- 
glish Dairy Cheese, and Butter." 



242 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

In 1856 South Norfolk was a busy place. Signs of life 
and prosperity appeared on all sides. People in wagons 
and loaded teams coming and going every week day, and 
on Sunday the "omnibus" with its full load for church. In 
1900, it is very quiet there. 

In 1853 the "Norfolk Leather Company" was incorporated 
with a Capital of |6,000, as manufacturers of and dealers 
in all kinds of "Book-binders', Suspender and Pocket-book 
makers' Leather. Depot, 27 Courtlafidt St., New York." 
The first ofiBcers were William W. Welch, President; Eg- 
bert T. Butler, Secretary. Later, Egbert T. Butler was 
chosen President and Business Manager, and acted as 
such until the company failed. The stockholders of 
this company were William Yale, Harlow Roys, S. 
D. Northway, Egbert T. Butler, Aaron Keyes, E. 
Grove Lawrence, Dr. Wm. W. Welch, Edmund Brown 
and Benjamin W. Crissey. They bought and for 
a time operated a small tannery which had been built 
in West Norfolk by Wm, Yale. Harlow Roys, it was said, 
was the principal business agent of the company. Under 
the incorporation laws of the state at that time the stock- 
holders of a company were liable for all the company's 
debts. This Company proved to be the most disastrous 
business venture to a part of the stockholders, in the history 
of the town. An enormous debt compared with the capital 
of the company was incurred by the managers. The coming 
storm was foreseen, and all the stockholders took shelter 
from it, save four, and upon those four men fell the entire 
burden of the enormous debt. Each of the four stock- 
holders mentioned paid $7,315.78 of the "Norfolk Leather 
Company's" indebtedness. 

In 1810 Mr. Samuel Cone and his brother, Mr. Warren 
Cone, then young men, sons of Daniel Hurlbut Cone of Win- 
chester, came to Norfolk. They at first carried on black- 
smithing^ shoeing oxen, etc. In 1811 they bought of Mr. 
Lemuel Akin the mill site just at the foot of Buttermilk 
Falls, their dam having been formerly known as the "An- 
chor-shop dam," The west part of the dam is still stand- 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 243 

ing. This conveyance from Mr. Akin was "eighteen rods 
of ground, beginning at the south-east corner of the old An- 
chor-shop dam," etc., "with privilege of raising the water, 
but so that it does not injure the grist-mill and saw-mill 
which stand above; reserving the privilege of taking water 
from the dam or flume as shall be most convenient to carry 
to a tan-works, if the grantor or his assigns should set up 
any on land adjoining the conveyed premises. Nor have 
the grantees any right to set up an oil-mill on said prem 
ises." 

On this privilege the Messrs. Cone built, or used the old 
Anchor shop, for a Scythe shop, and for several years to- 
gether successfully manufactured grass and grain scythes, 
which were sold in all this region and what was then 'the 
west,' — employing a number of men, and running several 
trip-hammers. In 1818 Mr. Samuel Cone sold to his brother, 
Mr. Warren Cone, his interest in this mill-privilege, which 
was "deeded to them by Mr. Akin, Rufus Pettibone, and 
others," and also his interest in the house lot, "being land 
conveyed to S. and W. Cone, July, 1816, by Munson C. Gay- 
lord and wife." Mr, Warren Cone continued the manufac- 
ture of scythes at this place until 1840, when he sold the 
shop and privilege to Willard Button. The "house lot" 
mentioned above, has been known from 1816 until the pres- 
ent time as "the Cone place," the original house having 
been built by Edward Strickland about 1750. The old house 
of the "lean-to style," stood a few rods south of the fine 
house which Mr. Cone built in 1836, in a most thorough 
manner, and which is still in fine condition. Mr. Cone was 
a prominent man in all town affairs; represented the town 
in the Legislatures of 1834 and 1838; was chosen Deacon 
of the Congregational church, November, 1845, and held 
the office until his death. May, 1852, at the age of 63. 

Mr. Samuel Cone bought a water-privilege a short dis- 
tance below the present Hosiery Company's stone mill, 
where he built a scythe shop and manufactured grass and 
grain scythes until a short time prior to his death. He 
built the house in which he lived, which was owned and 



244 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

occupied later by Mr. Elijah Loomis, a Cabinet-maker and 
Undertaker, and is now the home of Mr. Sylvester Tyrrell. 
Mr. Cone was chosen deacon in May, 1826, resigned the 
office, March, 1835, and died in 1836, at the age of 51. 

Captain John Dewell, who for many years was a manu- 
facturer of grass and grain scythes in West Norfolk, com- 
menced business there a little prior to 1830, built the stone 
scythe-shop and the stone-house which still stands there in 
fine condition, a lasting monument to his enterprise and 
to his memory. He was for many years a prominent busi- 
ness man and citizen of the town. A sketch of him will 
be found in another chapter. 

Mr. Daniel Cotton for some years manufactured scythes, 
his shop being located a short distance from the outlet of 
Doolittle Pond. Mr. Aro Phelps built a grist-mill at Doo- 
little Pond and David Doolittle ran the mill for some years, 
and his name was given to the pond. Some old persons liv- 
ing remember Doolittle's mill. There was quite a little vil- 
lage in that vicinity at one time, called Pond Town. 

In the '^Norfolk Tower," a paper published in this town 
for a few years, — under date of January 10, 1888, is an ar- 
ticle, "written by a life-long resident of the town, who is 
so situated as to be able to give correct history of the early 
days of our town." From this article I quote: ''Norfolk 
was incorporated as a town in 1758, with 27 families. The 
first deed was taken by Timothy Hosford of Windsor, it 
being the tract of land of 400 acres now known as the H. J. 
Holt and E. G. Lawrence farms. The first residence built 
in town was on these farms. The land was very productive 
and large crops of grass and grain were raised. They had 
large stocks of Cattle and Sheep. At one time in recent 
years E. Grove Lawrence and Darius Camp owned some 
1,500 sheep. The first county road was built in 1761 from 
Canaan to New Hartford. It was all a wilderness. The 
road was built on the side hill above where the present 
road now runs in order to get on dry land and avoid 
swamps. Near the road east of Mr. Lawrence's farm was 
the Nathaniel Pease place. He kept a hotel and also ran 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 245 

a small tannery. Then next came the tannery then owned 
by Samnel Trescott, which in 1818 was sold to Levi Shep- 
ard, who carried on the business of tanning and shoe mak- 
ing, and Mrs. Shepard a millinery shop. She furnished the 
ladies their hats in all the surrounding towns, as there was 
no millinery shop nearer than Litchfield. At that time 
Norfolk was more of a business place than Winsted. There 
was a blacksmith shop where the Dewell stone house now 
stands. The first bolts and nuts made by machinery in this 
country were made here by Mr. A. Allen, who secured a 
patent, but had not capital to develop the business. He 
died soon after and the business was carried on by others. 
About 182.5 a scythe shop was located on the same ground 
where the blacksmith shop stood and was owned by John 
Dewell, who afterwards built a large stone factory on the 
opposite side of the river, and later the stone house." 

The "Circular and Price List for Planter's Hoes" for 
1855, was as follows: — 

"Improved Cast Steel Planters' Hoes, manufactured by N. B. 
Stevens, Norfolk, Conn. 

These hoes are made with much care of the best material, and 
are superior to any other now in use; the best evidence of which is 
the increasing demand, and the high recommendations of their ex- 
cellence which are received from all sections of the planting states. 

The undersigned has greatly enlarged and improved his facili- 
ties for manufacturing these Hoes the past summer, and is now 
prepared to fill orders to almost an unlimited extent. 

Orders received direct, which will have prompt attention, and 
goods delivered to New York City free of charge. 

Office in New York, 228 Pearl street. 

List of Prices for 1855 and '56. 

Per doz. Per doz. 

No. 0, 7 inch, $5.00 for half bright, $5.50 for full bright. 

No. 1, 7 1-2 inch, 5.50 for half bright, 6.00 for full bright. 

No. 2, 8 inch, 6.00 for half bright, 6.50 for full bright. 

No. 3, 8 1-2 inch, 6.50 for half bright, 7.00 for full bright. 

No. 4, 9 inch, 7.00 for half bright, 7.50 for full bright. 
Terms, six months, or 5 per cent, discount for cash." 

Norfolk, October 1, 185.5. N. B. STEVENS." 



246 HISTORY OF NOEFOLK. 

Mr. Levi Shepard, as already mentioned, for many years 
conducted a tannery in West Norfolk on a small stream 
that came down from 'Camp Hollow/ as it was called. He 
manufactured Book-binders, Suspender, and Pocket-book- 
makers' leather. The firm name was for many years Levi 
Shepard & Son, and after the death of Mr. Levi Shepard in 
1880 at the age of more than ninety-five years, the business 
was continued by Mr. John K. Shepard. Their business 
for a long time seemed very prosperous, but as with a ma- 
jority of Norfolk's manufacturers, financial disaster at 
length overtook them, and the business went down. This 
tannery property has for a number of years been owned 
by the George Dudley Company of Winsted, but has stood 
idle a part of the time. 

Mr. Russell Pendleton in about 1850 built and for a short 
time operated a small tannery near the site of the old Oil- 
mill which was owned by Mr. Lemuel Akin and for a time 
owned and run by Capt. John Bradley and his sons. Mr. 
Pendleton sold out his plant and privilege to the Lawrence 
Machine Company in 1854, when they built the stone shop 
a little below, and took their power from Mr. Pendleton's 
dam. 

In 1847 Mr. E. Grove Lawrence built and Abram Day, 
Jun., of Canaan was supervisor and superintendent of what 
was called a ''forge and puddling furnace" in West Nor- 
folk, a little east and not far from the old toll-gate. Mr. 
Day had been connected with the firm of Huntington & Day 
of Canaan as a practical iron maker, in their puddling fur- 
nace in East Canaan, of whose business Mr. Richards of 
New Jersey, in some reminiscences published a few months 
ago in the 'Connecticut Western News,' says: "Huntington 
& Day in East Canaan made iron of a very superior quality 
from Salisbury pig-iron, for the Collins Axe Company of 
Collinsville. At that time the output of the Collins Co.'s 
works was 1,600 finished axes per day. Huntington & Day 
contracted with the Collins Co. to deliver a specified 
amount of iron each month for one year. The price, |100 
per ton, seems fabulous today, but the iron was entirely 
satisfactory to the Collins Co." 



I 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 247 

Mr. Lawrence made bar-iron from pig-iron by a process 
then comparatively new, consisting of melting pig-iron in 
a furnace with wood. Mr. Day was a descendant of the first 
manufacturer of iron in this town, and died in this town 
Jan. 5, 1851, aged 42. 

From 1855 until about 1861 Augustus and Hiram P. 
Lawrence, sons of E. Grove Lawrence, under the firm name 
of A. & H. P. Lawrence, made iron by the 'sinking process,' 
at the Lawrence Forge in West Norfolk, using ore which 
was brought from Port Henry on Lake Champlain, the 
ore being shipped by canal boats to the vicinity of Albany, 
where it was transferred to cars which brought it to 
Canaan, whence by teams it was hauled to West Norfolk. 

An excellent quality of iron was made from this ore, 
some of which was used for making steel at the Steel Works 
in Colebrook, and other places. This iron brought from 
|90 to 1100 per ton. 

When this Lawrence Forge was shut down about 1860, 
there was a considerable quantity of this iron on hand, 
which was sold two or three years later, when prices were 
greatly inflated, for |200 per ton, the 'Winsted Manufac- 
turing Company,' manufacturers of tools, being the pur- 
chasers of the iron at that price. 

Some of the smaller industries in other parts of the 
town were a saw-mill, at the outlet of Wood Creek, owned 
by Mr. David Gaylord in about 1830, and later in the same 
location, a "Cabinet Manufactory," operated for several 
years by Mr. Frederick E. Porter, where some very nice 
Cabinet work was done. Mr. Rowland has a saw-mill on 
the same site at present, and Mr. William Scoville the old 
Cabinet Shop. 

Mr. Pliny Foot carried on a tannery at his place very 
near Grantville, where he did quite a flourishing, profitable 
business for many years, in connection with a small farm. 
He tanned calf-skins, and made other kinds of heavy 
leather. 

Mr. Stephen Norton, one of the early settlers of the 
town, built and for many years kept a tavern which was 



248 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

located in the South End district, not far from the ceme- 
tery, at the corner of the Winchester road and the road to 
(rrantville. He also built and ran for a time a small grist- 
mill, located on a small stream east of his house. 

There was a quite extensive use of a small water-power 
near Grantville for many years by different members of 
the Grant family. A saw-mill was built in the early days 
and operated by different members of the family; the last 
one who ran it extensively was Mr. Harry M. Grant, who 
died in 1870. A factory for the manufacture of cheese- 
boxep was also built and operated in connection with the 
saw-mill, the first one mentioned as running this factory 
being Mr. Garry Cook Grant, who died in 1839, and later 
it was run by Mr.Harry M. Grant. The old buildings were 
burned not many years since. Some members of the Grant 
family also built and operated for a time, but not very ex- 
tensively, a grist-mill in the same neighborhood, which 
also has entirely disappeared. 

Mr. E. Lyman Gaylord writes: "It may be news to the 
people of Norfolk that clocks were ever made in town, yet 
such was the fact. Not long after the Green Woods Turn- 
pike was opened and my father's tavern-house was built, 
his brother, Norton Gaylord, built a small clock shop on 
the stream that ran through the farm, made clocks there 
and sent them south to be sold. About 1812 a big freshet 
suddenly tore away the dam, and the rush of water under- 
mined the shop and toppled it over. He then moved to 
Homer, N. Y., and engaged in clock-making there." This 
was the Timothy Gaylord tavern place mentioned else- 
where; owned after Mr. Gay lord's death by Mr. Samuel 
Seymour and his son, Rufus P. Seymour; now known as the 
Higgins' place. Boyd says: "In 1811, Eleazer Hawley from 
Norfolk, a clock maker, came to Wlnsted, lived and raised 
a family in a house at the top of the hill above the Wood- 
ruff tannery." This simply confirms Mr. Gaylord's men- 
tion of the Norfolk Clock Shop. 

On Roaring-brook, as it was called, which runs on the 
easterly end of Canaan mountain, north, toward Black- 



HIS1X)RY OF NORFOLK. 249 

berry river, Mr. Samuel S. Camp built a saw-mill and 
cheese-box factory, and for years did quite a business there, 
but like many other enterprises, this had its day, went into 
disuse and at length disappeared. 

Esq. Edmund Brown in his early life built a saw-mill on 
his farm, where for the larger part of his life he did quite 
an extensive business in the manufacture of lumber, for 
himself and his neighbors. The same old mill is yet there, 
but only at times is it in operation. It was enlarged, re- 
built and circular saws put in about 1876. 

There was a shingle-mill, that stood nearly opposite the 
'grist-mill house,' which was run for a short time by Mr. 
Amos Baldwin and later by Mr, James Cowles, where 
shingles were cut by a large machine from chestnut blocks. 
This mill-privilege was used at an earlier date as a Hammer 
and Blacksmith shop, and was not far from the site of the 
old Oil-mill mentioned elsewhere. 

THE NORFOLK HOSIERY COMPANY. 

The following article, regarding the knitting business 
half a century ago, Mr. Kilbourn's invention of knitting 
machinery, the early manufacture of knitting yarns in this 
town, the organization of the Norfolk Hosiery Company, 
etc., was kindly written by Mr. Edward E. Kilbourn for 
this history, at the request of the compiler. The business 
of the Hosiery Company has been one of the very few manu- 
facturing enterprises of this town that has been success- 
ful. Mr. Kilbourn's inventions, worked a revolution in 
the manufacture of underwear and hosiery, not only in 
this country, but throughout the world, and caused the 
success of this business enterprise. To him all honor is 
due, and through him this his native town is honored, and 
her name is known and read in all the lands. Brief men- 
tion had been made of this, in connection with other manu- 
facturing enterprises of the town previous to the receipt 
of Mr. Kilbourn's article, which is the following: — 

My father, Jonathan S. Kilbourn, bought the property 
where the Kilbourn factory stood probably in 1830, building 



250 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

the old mill about that time. The old milf was originally 
used for a carding and finishing mill, the wool brought 
in by the farmers, carded into rolls for spinning, taken 
home and spun on the hand wheel, woven on a hand loom, 
and the cloth brought back to be fulled, dyed and finished. 
A part of the building was also used for making wooden 
bowls. About 1844 my oldest brother went into company 
with father, the firm name being J. S. Kilbourn & Son, put- 
ting in additional carding, spinning and weaving ma- 
chinery, abandoning the manufacture of wooden bowls and 
engaging in the manufacture of satinettes, cashmere, flan- 
nel and stocking yarn. About 1850 father retired from the 
business, the business being then carried on by my two 
brothers under the firm name of H. C. & J. K. Kilbourn. 
They put up some additional buildings, including the brick 
building, increased the carding and spinning machinery, 
giving up the manufacture of cloth, making knitting yarn 
exclusively. They also bought the Solomon Curtis farm 
at about this time and laid out the row of building lots on 
the south side of the stream. About 1854 the mill was 
sold to The Welaka Co., and eventually sold by them to the 
present owners. 

About 1852, J. J. Hinchrnan of New York bought of Rob- 
bins Battell the property on which the stone mill of The 
Hosiery Co. now stands. In connection with brother Jo- 
seph he built the stone mill, filling it with cotton machinery 
and running it for the manufacture of cotton knitting yarn, 
selling it in 1857 to The Norfolk Hosiery Co. 

The knitting business was started in 1854. The knitting 
business in Philadelphia (now one of the large industries 
of that city) was then in its infancy, being mainly carried 
on by English Hand Knitters, who had brought over their 
old hand frames and worked then in a small way. Through 
J. J. Hinchman, both the cotton and woolen mill had been 
supplying yarn to these knitters. I had been engaged with 
my brothers in both the cotton and woolen mill and was 
looking for an opening to start in business for myself. My 
brother Joseph, through his connection with Mr. Hinch- 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 251 

man. had got the idea there was a good opening in the 
knitting business and urged me to take it up. While I had 
a very good knowledge of the business as far as the manu- 
facture of yarn was concerned, I did not even know how a 
knitting machine looked, when we commenced to discuss 
the matter, but as a result of this discussion, I formed a 
partnership in the summer of 1854 with Doctors W. W. 
and J. H. Welch under the firm name of J. H. Welch & Co. 
to engage in the manufacture of hosiery and knitting ma- 
chines; the capital to be |1,000. Visiting Philadelphia to 
get what information I could, I ordered built one of the 
old hand machines then in use. On this trip I conceived 
the idea of a new knitting machine, and on my return home 
I explained my ideas to my brother Joseph, and after con- 
sulting with the Welches, decided while waiting for the 
machine I had bought, to go on and build my new ma- 
chine. We started with the expectation of spending less 
than flOO on the machine and completing it in a few weeks. 
Before the machine was perfected, and the business estab- 
lished on a paying basis, so that the enterprise commenced 
paying regular dividends to its stockholders, over thirteen 
years was spent, and over |400,000 cash, actually expended 
on the enterprise, in addition to all the earnings but about 
112,000, for the thirteen years. On the receipt of the ma- 
chines I had bought, I left my experimenting long enough 
to learn to run the machine myself, hired a man and taught 
him to run it, and went back to my experimenting. We 
afterwards bought more of the hand machines and manu- 
factured Half Hose in a moderate way, but my time was 
largely put into the new machine. At the organization of 
the Norfolk Hosiery Co., the Welches retained the old hand 
machines, and I believe run them for a time. While I was 
the active worker in our experiments, my brother Joseph 
was constantly working in consultation with me for the 
first three years, and was joint patentee of the invention. 
In 1857 our invention was so far completed that we thought 
it was ready for practical use. The capital furnished by 
the Welches had grown from |1,000 to about |10,000, and 



252 HISTORY OF NORFOLK 

we needed more capital to develop it. Dr. Win. W. Welch 
secured the co-operation of Mr. Lucius Porter and together 
they raised the capital of |75,000, for The Norfolk Hosiery 
Co., considerable of the capital being secured by Mr. Porter 
from capitalists in New Brunswick, New Jersey, whom he 
was associated with in other enterprises, the new com- 
pany purchasing all the rights in the invention of the 
Welches, my brother and myself, and also the cotton mill 
of Mr. Hinchman. The new company commenced the build- 
ing of machines and the manufacture of goods, selling 
some thirty machines to a mill in Manchester, Conn., which 
was burned down soon after starting. In 1859, Mr. Porter 
and myself visited England to try and dispose of our 
patents. We found that our machine was far in advance 
of anything they had there, but English manufacturers 
were not disposed to adopt it; in fact, the largest English 
manufacturer of hosiery after spending nearly a day exam- 
ining our machine told us frankly that while our machine 
was far in advance of an3-thing they had, and if it ever was 
introduced he would be obliged to adopt it, his invest- 
ment in the old style machines was so large that he con- 
sidered it for his interest to prevent its introduction if he 
could. We came home intending to build a number of ma- 
chines and go back with them and force the English manu- 
facturers to adopt them, but the illness of Mr. Porter's wife 
and the disturbance ending in Civil War delayed us, and 
after passage of the Morrill Tariff, we were so fully em- 
ployed here that we never went back. Some years were 
spent in getting machines perfected and business estab- 
lished, but in 1863 the mill was in successful operation with 
all the machines that could be run in the building. Needing 
more room for further development of the business, it was 
proposed by the New Brunswick stockholders that we 
should buy a mill in New Brunswick, and the Norfolk & 
New Brunswick Hosiery Co., organized in New Jersey with 
a capital of |300,000, bought the plant of The Norfolk 
Hosiery Co., including the American Patents, and from 
that time their main business has been carried on in New 
Brunswick, 



mSTOEY OF NORFOLK. ' 253 

To look after my interests in the improvements I had 
made in Spinning machinery, I left the active employ of 
The Norfolk & New Brunswick Hosiery Co. in 1868 or 1869. 
When I commenced my experiments, the knitting business 
was in its infancy in the country, the English manufac- 
turers having full control of our markets in all fine fash- 
ioned goods. When I left the employ of The Norfolk & 
New Brunswick Hosiery Co., they had been doing for some 
years a very successful business in the manufacture of fine 
fashioned underwear and hosiery, competing successfully 
with the best English manufacturers and to a large extent 
displacing their goods. 

The following from a publication of 'The Norfolk and 
New Brunswick Hosiery Company' will be of interest: — 

"To the Messrs. J. K. and E. E. Kilt>ourn, who were, prior to 1857, 
manufacturers of yarn in the town of Norfolk, Conn., was reserved 
the invention of a "new departure" from the general plan followed 
in the construction of knitting-machines. 

Their idea was to knit into garments the product of their yarn 
mill, and, procuring a "hand frame" as a basis, they introduced 
improvements of such an original character that the skilled operator 
of the "hand frame" would fail to recognize in the improved ma- 
chine any similarity of design or construction; they conceived an 
original idea of automatic motion, which, in fact, had been at- 
tempted, but never before accomplished. These machines, the first 
invention of the brothers Kilbourn, are now adapted to the finest 
work, and can be run at the highest rate of speed. The material 
is knit to any required width or shape by the wonderful automatic 
motion, and a full fashioned garment is produced. 

In 1857 there was established at Norfolk, Conn., a manufactory 
with a capital stock of .?75,000, at which time Mr. L. P. Porter 
united with the Kilbourn brothers in the enterprise. Such was the 
Increased demand for these goods that the business was enlarged, 
and in 1863 a new company was incorporated, to be known as the 
Norfolk and New Brunswick Hosiery Company. The old cotton 
factory of Col. Neilson, in New Brunswick, N. J., was purchased 
at that date, and the buildings now occupied, covering five acres, 
form an imposing group, in which is found everything that is most 
modern and convenient in factory construction. These vast knit- 
ting mills present to the visitor a display of wonderful mechanical 
genius and the highest sanitary conditions of light, ventilation, and 
safety from accident and fire. 



254 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

The factories in Norfolk, Conn., are still in successful operation, 
turning out a large amount of a coarser grade of work, for whicli 
there is an extensive demand. But the plant at New Brunswick, 
N. J., is devoted to the best and finest grades of material that expert 
judgment can select, and in the best styles that human skill can 
produce. The business has grown to its present vast proportions 
because of the solid excellence of the goods which they have put 
upon the market, and because their manufactured product can com- 
pete, for fineness of quality, durability of texture and perfection of 
finish with any goods in the world— even those from the great knit- 
ting centers of Europe. 

The Norfolk and New Brunswick Hosiery Company, which was 
the pioneer In extensive manufacture of their specialty, has been a 
factor in the commercial world for more than one-third of a century. 
From its complete organization of practical business men, and its 
extensive equipment of perfected methods of manufacture, as well 
as from the expert knowledge of the natural products used by the 
skilled labor employed, the corporation is prepared at every step to 
warrant the quality of material, care in manufacture and finish, to 
be precisely as has been represented by its trusted and authorized 
agents. In fact, the goods which bear the trade-mark of this com- 
I>any are the acknowledged standard in American knit wear for 
general all-around excellence; and no retail dealer in furnishing 
goods of the best quality can meet the demands of his customers 
without a full line of the superior productions of this mammoth 
establishment in the manufacture of knitted garments." 

THE .^TNA SILK COMPANY. 

One of the few successful manufacturing industries of 
this town has been the Aetna Silk Company, from its or- 
ganization in 1878 until the present time. They occupy, as 
is stated below, the old Woolen Company's privilege; their 
factory standing on the site of the Ryan Factory, which 
was burned in 1861. 

In the spring of 1873 Charles Morse and William Swift, 
who had been engaged in the silk business in Meriden for 
several years, moved their machinery into the building on 
"Patmos Island" known as the Hoe Shop. They took the 
name of the Norfolk Silk Company, remodeled the build- 
ing and made various varieties of spool silk. Mr. Swift 
soon severed his connection with the Company and Mr. 
Morse continued the business alone until the spring of 1876. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 255 

The mill remained vacant from that time until Jan. 1, 1878, 
when the Aetna Silk Company was formed. This Com- 
pany was organized by Mr. Joseph Selden, who came to 
Norfolk from Bockville, Conn., in 1875 as agent of the Hart- 
ford Axle Company. The capital of the Aetna Silk Com- 
pany was at first $10,000. Its oflBcers were Robbins Battell, 
President; Joseph B. Eldridge, Treasurer, and Mr. Selden, 
Agent. Mr. F. E. Porter and Mr. L. L. Whiting were also 
Stockholders and Directors of the Company. In 1879 it 
purchased the property on which the business was com- 
menced, and in 1883 rented the building erected for them 
by Mr. Eldridge on the site of the old Ryan mill. After 
Mr. Battell's death Mr. Selden was elected President. Mr. 
John D. Bassett joined the Company in 1893 and has since 
served as Secretary. Mr. A. P. Atwood, who was formerly 
Superintendent for Mr. Morse, has filled a similar position 
with the Aetna Company from the start. The Company has 
always enjoyed a prosperous business. Their capital and 
surplus have increased to over |40,000 and their plant and 
pay roll have been multiplied four fold since the first years. 
They confine themselves to standard silk threads for manu- 
facturers use, but make all shades and sizes. They sell 
their own goods in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, 
Rochester, Gloversville, N. Y., and Amesbury. Mass., under 
the superintendence of the home office. 

VARIOUS OTHER ENTERPRISES. 

"Quite an extensive business was done for some years 
at the old Grist-mill, in the manufacture of wheat, rye, and 
buck-wheat flour, which was sold not only here, but in all 
the adjoining towns. The wheat and other grains were 
bought in all these towns, as well as in the towns of western 
Litchfield, Southern Berkshire, and Dutchess Counties. At 
one time, — about 1837, — there was a short crop of wheat in 
this region. The western wheat fields were then known 
only as part of the "Great American Desert," as the geog- 
raphys of that day called the western country. A large 
quantity of Odessa wheat, from near the Black Sea in 



256 HISTOEY OF NORFOLK. 

Southern Europe, was brought from New York to Norfolk, 
coming up the Hudson river to Hudson, and made into 
flour at this mill. 

Dea. Jonathan Kilbourn operated, in connection with his 
other business, mentioned elsewhere, a 'dish-mill' for sev- 
eral years, and turned out large quantities of wooden bowls, 
which were sold in all the region around, and many speci- 
mens still exist in the old homes. Those turned from white 
ash knots were especially fine and valuable, and knots in 
the great old sugar maples, soft-maples, ash, beech and 
birch trees were sought in the forests and brought a high 
price. These wooden bowls were turned with peculiar 
chisels, — a single large knot or block making a whole nes't, 
in size from very small ones up to those nearly two feet 
across, which were used for a variety of purposes: bread- 
bowls, butter-bowls, chopping-bowls, etc. The grain of 
some of those turned from knots was very handsome, and 
the bowls very strong and durable." 

In this heavily w^ooded country in the early days saw- 
mills were naturally quite numerous. In the extreme south 
part of the town, Hall meadow, it is called, mentioned else- 
where, Mr. Jeremiah Johnson for some years did quite a 
business with a saw-mill, cheese-box factory, etc., and later 
it was run by Philemon Johnson and others, using the 
water-power from the Naugatuck river. This plant, too, 
is now unused. 

There was for a time a saw-mill and cheese-box shop in 
Meekertowm, a little distance below Dolphin or Balcom 
pond, which is the source of the Naugatuck river. This 
mill long since disappeared. It was owned and operated 
by Joshua Beach, Amos Baldwin, Amos Gilbert, Myron 
Johnson and others, at various times. 

There was also a saw-mill for some years a short dis- 
tance below the outlet of Tobey pond, west from the present 
Golf links. This, too, is gone and forgotten. 

Mr. Joseph Gaylord and his successors for many years 
maintained a saw-mill on the Wood Creek stream, about 
a half-mile below the site of the mill of David Gaylord. 
This also is now unknown. 



II 

I 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 257. 

At the outlet of Doolittle, or 'The Great Pond/ there was 
for many years a saw-mill, of which very little remains to 
even mark the place. 

At the outlet of 'Benedict lake,' 'Smith pond,' or 'Little 
pond,' situated near 'The Great Pond,' different genera- 
tions* by the name of Benedict for many years operated a 
saw-mill, from an early period until within a few years. 

r>ea. Dudley Norton and Jennison J. Whiting for some 
years operated a steam saw-mill on Dea. Norton's farm in 
the north part of the town, where a large quantity of pine 
lumber was cut. This, too, long since was gone. 

For several years past a steam saw-mill has been in opera- 
tion in the west part of the town, near the Crissey pond 
and elsewhere, where large quantities of hemlock lumber 
are cut, the mill being moved from time to time from one 
piece of timber to another. 

"The most unique enterprise was the building of a shop 
for the manufacture of cheese-boxes on the side hill a little 
way south of the Bridgeman mansion, on the rivulet which 
comes down from Button hill. This proved a 'dry privilege,' 
and the eight-foot overshot wheel failed to turn ; the water 
supply proving too unreliable for practical use." 

Mr. Philo Smith and his son, Obadiah, for some years 
operated a saw-mill and cheese-box shop on the stream 
south of their residence near Grantville. Of this also it 
can only be said, it has disappeared. 

In those early days there was a great amount of "Eng- 
lish Dairy Cheese," as it was called, made in this town, 
requiring a great number of cheese-boxes for shipping, but 
that industry also has entirely ceased, as cheese-making in 
Norfolk is now a lost art. 

In 1853 Mr. Nathaniel B. Stevens and Augustus P. Law- 
rence, the eldest son of E. Grove Lawrence, built the 'Hoe 
Shop,' as it was called for years, on Patmos Island, as has 
been briefly mentioned, for the manufacture of Planters' 
Hoes. Aaron Keyes was for many years their Superin 
leudent, and many thousand dozens were manufactured and 
shipped to all parts of the south. This was a new industry 



258 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

in this country when N. B. Stevens & Co. started it here, 
only one other shop, somewhere in the Naugatuek Valley, 
at that time making these hoes in this country; the supply 
having been imported from England. These Yankees soon 
produced a better article than the Englishmen, making a 
hoe with a solid eye, all drawn from one piece of metal, and 
finished with a tempered edge of cast-steel, and were in- 
tended to cut. The eye of the hoe had been riveted on by 
the Englishmen. They were a clumsy implement, ranging 
from the size of an ordinary hoe to the size of a small shovel, 
but much heavier than a Yankee's hoe. The negro fitted a 
stick for a handle into his hoe, and it was said that much 
of the plowing or breaking of the land through the south 
was done by the negroes with these heavy hoes. The break- 
ing out of the civil war spoiled this industry entirely. 

Just over the Norfolk line, in the town of Canaan, a Mr. 
Burt in the early part of the century built a forge where a 
large amount of business was done at various times. Hunt- 
ington & Day put a puddling furnace in this old forge in 
1843, and mention has been made of the iron which they 
sold to the Collins Axe Company. The dam for this forge 
was in Norfolk, and flooded quite a little land on what is 
known as the Ives farm, and the Holt, or Blackberry River 
farm. 

In about 1835 Mr. Isaac Holt owned a saw and shingle 
mill that stood just below the Burt forge dam, on the line 
between Norfolk and Canaan. The 'Green Mountain Com- 
pany' operated this mill for a time; the members of this 
company being Richard Stevens, Roswell Kilbourn and 
Stephen Holt, as mentioned in Thomas Richards' reminis- 
cences of Canaan, published in the 'Connecticut Western 
News.' 

It is difficult, not to say impossible, to learn fully about 
the early manufacture of iron and other articles in town. 
The records fail to throw much light upon it, and those who 
knew have mostly gone the way of all the earth. One con- 
veyance of a water privilege to Samuel and Warren Cone, 
already mentioned, indicates that anchors were made here, 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 259 

and that the dam, a short distance below Buttermilk Falls, 
that later furnished the power for Mr. Warren Cone's 
Scythe Shop, in earlier days furnished the power where 
anchors were made. The west end of this dam is still 
standing, and Dennis McGarty's wagon shop stands where 
the east end of the dam was built. 

From the "Scrap Book of North Canaan." 

"Squire Samuel Forbes was the original "iron prince." 
and pioneer in the iron industry in this section. His 
Canaan career began about the middle of the last century. 
. The first forge he erected was located on "the 
island," a few yards east of the Forbes residence. Here 
ship anchors were made, weighing from one-half to two 
tons, and which were hauled by ox teams to Boston and 
other seaport cities, six-yoke ox teams being often employed 
to haul an anchor, and requiring from a month to six weeks 
to make the round trip. The ore was brought, in the earlier 
history of iron making, on horseback from Salisbury, where 
Squire Forbes originally discovered the iron ore deposits 
which have since made that town prosperous and famous. 
The first mining was done there in what is still known as 
the "Forbes ore bed." 

"Besides his iron works in Canaan, Squire Forbes op- 
erated a forge in Salisbury where cannon were made for 
the revolutionary army. . . . Besides anchors and 
cannon, he manufactured large iron soap kettles and other 
articles of iron. The anchor works, however, were the 
principal feature of his iron making, and gave employment 
to many sturdy men. The anchors were made direct from 
the smelted ore and hammered out with heavy sledge ham- 
mers, some of which weighed 56 pounds, requiring men of 
muscle and endurance to wield them. . . . Another 
forge that was in operation at the close of the last century 
was that of Colonel Burtt, a famous iron maker in his day. 
It stood a considerable distance east of the present fur- 
naces." It stood near the Norfolk line, as previously men- 
tioned. 

"On the north shore of Lake Wangum, on the top of 



260 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Canaan mountain, are vestiges of an old forge which was 
in operation for nearly a hundred years. It was abandoned 
many years ago. It was owned by the Hanchetts, who 
were skillful iron workers and made cannon for George 
Washington's armies." 

From 1830 to 1840 Mr. Zalmon Parritt, a son of Mr. James 
Parritt, Quaker Parritt he was called, carried on tanning 
and shoemaking in Loon meadow, not far east from the old 
Frisbie place. He tanned heavy leather, which he sold in 
Hartford, and at times employed a number of men in mak- 
ing boots and shoes. 

As will be seen from the foregoing chapter, although so 
many of the manufacturing enterprises have ended disas- 
trously, still the manufactures of the town have been nu- 
merous and not unimportant. Among the articles which 
have been manufactured in this town are: Flour and mill 
stufifs, lumber of all kinds, wooden bowls and dishes, 
shingles, cheese boxes and cheese casks, clocks, clock- 
plates and clock wheels, bar-iron, potash kettles, anchors 
and forgings, scythes, machinery, planters' hoes and cast- 
ings, military rifles, revolvers, axles for carriages, leather 
in great variety, woolen and cotton yarns, flannel, fulled 
cloth, broad-cloth, satinet, hosiery and underwear, the best 
in the world; sewing and embroidery silks, tapes, braids, 
lacings, etc., linseed-oil and cabinet furniture, tinware, sil- 
ver spoons, jewelry, boots and shoes, etc. 

Statistics of the amount of products, kind and amount of 
manufactured articles, and the different branches of in- 
dustry in the several towns of Connecticut for the year 
1845. 

'Trepared from the returns of the Assessors of the towns, 
by Daniel P. Tyler, Secretary of State." 

"NORFOLK." 

"Cotton Mill, one. Cotton flannel manufactured, 2,167 yards. 
Value, $390.06. Hands employed, 1. Capital invested, $250. 

Woolen Mills, two. Machinery, two setts. Wool consumed, 52.- 
274 lbs. 

Broadcloth manufactured, 16,429 yards. Value. $29,858. 

Satinett manufactured, 10,159 yards. Talue, $6,772. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 261 

Flannel manufactured, 508 yards. Value, $254. 

Capital invested, $43,000. 

Males employed, 29. Females employed, 11. 

Scythe Factory, one. Number manufactured, 6.000. Value, 
$4,800. Capital invested, $3,000. Hands employed, 8. 

Saddle, Trunk and Harness Factory, one. Capital invested, 
$550. Value of manufactures, $927. Hands employed, 1. 

Sheep-skins tanned, 22,192. Value, $7,712.80. Capital invested, 
$4,254. Hands employed, 12. 

Boots manufactured, 357 pairs; Shoes, 454 pairs. Value, $1,- 
638.12. Hands employed, 3. 

Lumber prepared for market, 732,000 feet. Value, $4,392. Hands 
employed, 6. 

Firewood prepared for market, 951 cords. Value, $1,268. Hands 
employed, 5. 

Merino Sheep, 2,166. Value, $2,018. 

Wool produced, 5,285 lbs. Value, $2,034. 

Horses, 169. Value, $6,532. 

Neat Cattle, 1,905. Value, $23,050. 

Swine, 716. Value, $6,531.35. 

Indian corn, 4,112 bushels. Value, $3,289.60. 

Buckwheat, 248 bushels. Value, $135.00. 

Rye, 975 bushels. Value, $780.40. 

Potatoes, 16,545 bushels. Value, $4,963.50. 

Other Esculents, 3,2.55 bushels. Value, $813.25. 

Hay, 3,511 tons. Value. $42,132. 

Flax, 48 lbs. Value. $6.00. 

Fruit, 14,006 bushels. Value, $1,400.60. 

Hops, 10 lbs. Value, $1.40. 

Butter, 52,099 lbs. Value, $7,814.85. 

Cheese, 256,247 lbs. Value, $16,656.05. 

Honey, 260 lbs. Value, $52.00. 

Beeswax. 32 lbs. Value. $9.60. 

Cheese Boxes manufactured. 21,900. Value, $2,847. Capital 
invested, $3,629. Hands employed. 5. 

Charcoal. 100,000 bushels. Value, $6,000." 

The above interesting statistics were kindly furnished 
for this history by Mr. George Seymour Godard, Assistant 
Librarian of the 'State Library' at Hartford. 

The woolen manufacturers of 1845 were J. & E. E. Ryan 
& Co., and J. S. Kilbourn & Son. 

The manufacturer of Scythes was Capt. John Dewell. 

The Harness manufacturer, Mr. Lewis Hill. 

The manufacturer of Cotton Flannel, unknown. 



262 HISTOEY OF NORFOLK. 



XX. 

NORFOLK MERCHANTS— SCHOOLS— THE PARK. 

The merchants of the town have been quite numerous, 
conducting business for longer or shorter periods, in a 
small or larger way. Some have been quite successful, 
others but very moderately so. The first merchant of whom 
the writer has heard was Samuel Dickinson, who kept a 
store on Beech Flats, where doubtless he dispensed "the 
necessities." It is said that a merchant of the olden time, 
in one of the adjoining towns probably, found conclusive 
proof of what 'the necessities of life' in those days were, by 
observing what his customers came for during a period of 
unusually cold stormy weather lasting several days, when 
it was with great difficulty that his store could be reached. 
The three necessary articles were shown to be New Eng- 
land rum, tobacco, and molasses. 

The first merchant of any note in this town, and by far 
the most successful one in its history so far, was Mr. Jo- 
seph Battell, who came to Norfolk when eighteen years 
old, and not long after opened a store on Beech Flats, at 
the old Humphrey house; part of the identical building 
which was his store still remaining in the wing of the house 
as rebuilt for a summer residence by Mr. C. J. Cole. At 
that time Beech Flats was the business centre of the town, 
but not very many years later that glory departed, and 
Esq. Battell in about 1800 leased the land on the corner by 
Mr. Giles Pettibone's tavern, for many years known as 
Shepard's Hotel, where he built the store in which he did 
a very large business until his sudden death in 1841. Not 
many years after building the store, he built a fine resi- 
dence, where he continued to reside until his death, and 
which remained practically as originally built until remod- 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 263 

elled by his son. Robbing Battell, in 1855, and which, hav- 
ing been further improved, still remains in fine condition 
as the residence of his grand-daughter, Mrs. Carl Stoeckel. 

Esq. Battell was a remarkably fine business man, widely 
known, beloved and esteemed for his kindness of heart and 
his readiness to assist others. He conducted a large profit- 
able business here for nearly forty years, amassing for 
those days, a large fortune. He was the principal merchant 
not only of this town, but drew also a large trade from all 
the adjoining towns, and for a long distance. In those 
days the farms in Norfolk and vicinity were at their best, 
the lands being practically new and productive, occupied 
by industrious, thrifty farmers, having good farm build- 
ings, well-fenced fields, herds of cattle and flocks of sheep 
in the valleys and on the hills. The land being adapted 
principally for grazing, butter and cheese were the staple 
products sold by the farmers. A considerable amount of 
maple sugar was also made every spring. Esq. Battell's 
store was the market place for all this region, the farmers' 
produce being shipped by him to New York by the Hudson 
or Connecticut rivers, taken chiefly by ox-teams from here 
to Hudson or Hartford, the teams returning loaded with 
salt and other merchandise. Large families of children 
were the rule in those days, which insured large flourish- 
ing schools, and plenty of the best of helpers in the house 
and on the farm. 

On Sunday evening, October 23, 1831, Esq. Battell's 
store was entered by a burglar, while a prayer-meeting was 
in progress, which commenced "at early candle lighting," 
in the conference-room, and about fifteen hundred dollars 
in money was stolen. This unusual event made quite a 
commotion when known in the town. A reward of several 
hundred dollars was offered for the conviction of the bur- 
glar and the recovery of the money. Barzel Treat, long a 
resident of the town, he who played the bass-viol to assist 
the choir of singers in the church, soon became very zeal- 
ous in trying to discover the money, and w^ent to consult 
a wise woman who claimed the ability to tell all events, 



264 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

past, present and to come, by looking into a small white 
stone. He reported that this wonderful woman said the 
money was buried at a certain place in the ledge, a little 
west from the meeting-house, and with others went and 
made a search, but at the first effort the money they did 
not find. He doubtless for a purpose claimed to have again 
consulted this wise woman; that she insisted that the 
money was buried in that ledge, and that he by looking into 
the white stone, had himself been able to see the place 
where it was buried. He with assistants instituted a thor- 
ough search, and after removing rocks and digging at the 
place indicated as he said in the white stone, the money 
was found. Suspicion that the said Barzel was the burglar 
had been in the minds of some from the first. He was con- 
victed of the burglary, served several years in the states- 
prison, and at the end of his term returned to Norfolk to 
claim the reward for finding the money, which reward 
doubtless he never received. 

In the early history of the town Col. Giles Pettibone 
conducted a store in connection with his tavern; the store 
building, which stood at the north-west corner of the house, 
was made into a wing of the house years afterward. 

Mr. E. Grove Lawrence and Mr. James C. Swift erected 
the building on the triangle near the fork of the roads by 
the bridge over Haystack brook, the lower story of which 
they occupied as a store, the upper story being used as a 
wool-sorting and storeing room for the woolen factory. 
After occupying this building for some years, in which Mr. 
Salmon Swift says he served as clerk. Mess. Lawrence and 
Swift sold out, erected and occupied as a store the build- 
ing which they sold to J. and E. E. Ryan & Co., that firm 
using it as a store for more than twenty years, since which 
time it has had various occupants; Mr. Matthew Ryan and 
his son, Charles M., having carried on this store continu- 
ously from the year 1836, when the Ryans commenced busi- 
ness here until their death, Mr. Matthew Ryan having died 
August 23, and his son, Charles M. Ryan, five days later — 
August 28, 1880. This store is now carried on, as it has 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 265 

been for several years, by Mr. Myron N. Clark, who is also 
the treasurer of the Norfolk Savings Bank. 

The store on the opposite side of the street, on the site 
of Grove Yale's building, also had a great number of occu- 
pants during its existence. Dea. Mars in his notes says, 
"Mr. E. H. Dennison & Co. built the old store on the site 
now occupied by Grove Yale." The writer is unable to 
give the firm names, and the chronological order of the va- 
rious merchants who occupied this old building, which was 
erected about 1810. After Mr. Dennison, the occupants 
were, with various firm combinations, Everett Case, Bailey 
Birge, Elizur Dowd, E. Grove Lawrence, James C. Swift, 
George Brown, Nathaniel B. Stevens, James H. Shepard, 
Shepard & King, Myron C. Johnson as Shepard & John- 
son, and others. One of the early firms was Dowd & Law- 
rence. Then Dow^d & Aiken, Edmund Aiken succeeding Mr, 
Lawrence. 

Mr. E. Grove Lawrence received the appointment as Post- 
Master, under the administration of President Van Buren, 
and removed the Post Office to this store, to the chagrin 
and dismay of various candidates for the office who lived 
upon or near 'the Green.' 

Mr. E. H. Dennison sold out his store down the hill, came 
up on the green and built for his store the building at the 
north-east corner of the green, and for his residence built 
the house just south, which Mr. Alfred L. Dennis rebuilt 
in 1852, which is now the parsonage. Mr. Dennison for 
some years conducted apparently quite a flourishing busi- 
ness here, but seems to have become financially embar- 
rassed, and gave up his business about 1829. 

Not long after Mr. Dennison failed, Mr. Alpha Sage 
opened a store in the same place and did apparently a large 
business for a few years, buying the farmers' produce and 
selling goods, but this venture ended in a most disastrous 
failure, many farmers losing, what was for them, large 
amounts. This store built by Mr. Dennison was made into 
a dwelling house soon after Sage's failure, has been occu- 
pied as such by several families since, and is now occu- 
pied as the residence of Mr. George W. Scoville. 



266 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

After the death of Esq. Joseph Battell his adopted son 
and partner in business, Mr. William Lawrence, continued 
business for some two years in the Old Store, and in 1843 
built the store at the north-east corner of the green, where 
he continued business about five years, when he sold out 
and retired to a beautiful home in Northampton, Mass., 
where he spent the remainder of his life. He was followed 
in this store by Daniel F. Bradford & Co. of Sheftield, My- 
ron H. Mills & Co., Peter Curtiss & Co., Mills & Crissey, 
Mr. Hubert L. Ives, W. E. and E. S. Beach, Landon 
Brothers, Mr. W. I. Sparks, Augustus P. Curtiss, and the 
present merchants. Collar Brothers. So far as the writer 
has knowledge, only a few of the successors of Mr. Wil- 
liam Lawrence have retired with a fortune to beautiful 
homes. The closing years of the history of 'the old store,' 
which was for a long period one of the most important 
business places in the entire history of the town, was not 
entirely uneventful or unworthy of mention. At difi'erent 
times it was occupied as a place of business; by Mr. James 
C. Swift about 1848, by Samuel Brown and Seth Miner as 
Brown & Miner, and later by Mess. Dowd, Curtiss & Co. 
as a general store; by Mr. Bradley Potter, a life-long resi- 
dent of the town, as an eating-house and temperance res- 
taurant; by Mr. O. N. Atkins as a peanut-stand, and as 
the Post-Office, when Mr. Giles Pettibone-Thompson was 
Post-master, and a part of the time when Mr. Aaron Gil- 
bert held that position. But 'the old store' did not, like 
some persons, become beautiful and attractive by age, but 
its glory had departed, and at length it was looked upon 
as an eye-sore, and privately declared to be a public nui- 
sance. At last one calm, still night about A. D. 1885, it 
most mysteriously fell down flat, and when the morning 
dawned it was seen to be an utter ruin. So far as the writer 
has been able to learn, no satisfactory explanation has ever 
been made as to the how or why the old store fell as it 
did. Whether it was a local earthquake, some other con- 
vulsion of nature, or a combination of natural and un- 
natural causes, must probably always remain a mystery. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 267 

Some of the other merchants of the town were: Mr. 
James H. Shepard, who, after being in trade in the old 
store down the hill for several years, as has been already 
mentioned, upon the completion of the Stevens Block in 
1856 conducted a general store in that building for a num- 
ber of years. John H. Welch & Go. had a drug-store in the 
same building, and John P. Hawley & Co., a Merchant 
Tailoring and Gents' furnishing establishment, at the same 
time in the Stevens Block. This building was enlarged and 
made a Hotel in about the year 1874, first called the Nor- 
folk House, kept by Mr. E. Y. Morehouse, and for many 
years past and yet it is the Stevens House, owned and 
conducted by Mr. E. C. Stevens & Son. 

When the above change was made a drug-store was built 
a short distance north, and Mr. George Johnson has car- 
ried it on for many years, following in the steps of his 
predecessors. 

Captain John Dewell kept a grocery-store for many years 
in 'the stone house' in West Norfolk. After Capt. Dewell's 
death in 1871, Capt. John K. Shepard had a store in West 
Norfolk for ten years or more, and was succeeded by Mr. 
Albert Cobb, who with his son, Frederick, is still there in 
business. Stevens & Hawley, and then Hawley & Sibley 
on Patmos Island, did for two or three years quite a brisk 
business, when manufacturing was flourishing in that vi- 
cinity, in about 1855. 

During the days when South Norfolk was in its glory, 
Harlow Roys, and later S. D. Northway & Co., had quite 
an extensive country store there for a few years, James 
Oscar Northway being for a time the merchant. 

Mr. Joseph W. Cone for several years did a good busi- 
ness near the grist-mill, as "Tinner and dealer in all kinds 
of Tin and Japan Ware, Furnaces and Stoves of every de- 
scription and variety. Vesper-gas Lamps, etc." 

Orlo J. Wolcott, "Jeweler and manufacturer of Silver 
table and tea Spoons, dealer in all varieties of Clocks, 
Watches, Jewelry, Stationery, etc., etc.," was located on 
the west side of the old turnpike, just opposite the road to 



268 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

the present Railroad Station. Mr. Wolcott's Jewelry store 
was burglarized in 1843, and Watches and Jewelry to quite 
an amount were stolen. 

In the Library "Scrap-book" is found the following "Bit 
of History:" 

"The early history of Thurston's Block, which is now 
being torn down, November, 1897, takes us back to names 
now forgotten in town, except by a few life-long residents. 
It was built by Amos Manley for a Jewelry Store some 
sixty years or more ago, and when in a few years Mr. Man- 
ley sold out his business to Orlo J. Wolcott, this building 
was bought by Oliver B. Butler, who occupied it as a shoe 
store until his death in 1866. It was afterward owned and 
occupied as a dwelling-house by Lockwood Perkins, now of 
Colebrook, then by Mr. Thurston, who added to it for a tin- 
shop and store. Mr. Wolcott built a new shop for himself, 
just south of this old Jewelry store, and lived in the old 
house which is still standing at the corner of "Station 
Place," until he built his house which is the one next to the 
"Bank Building." He occupied this house until his removal 
to Ripon, Wisconsin, in 1858, when he sold the house to 
Mr. Asa G. Pettibone, who was then the Cashier of the 
Norfolk Bank. The small Jewelry store was used for a va- 
riety of purposes after Mr. Wolcott left town, and has since 
been torn down. 

Mr. Oliver B. Butler, dealer in Boots and Shoes, whose 
name is mentioned above, was for many years a well known 
business man and resident of the town. He came here 
when a young man and built a small shop just east of the 
green, near the site of the present residence of Mrs. Dr. 
Gidman, which he occupied until he bought the old Jewelry 
store of Mr. Manley, as is mentioned above. He was, as 
advertised, "Manufacturer, and dealer in all kinds of Boots 
and Shoes." He is mentioned at length elsewhere. This 
first shop of his was made into a small dwelling-house, and 
was for many years the home of "Aunt Bilhah Freedom." 



mSTOEY OF NORFOLK. 269 

SCHOOLS. 

We find but scant material for a history of the very early 
schools of this town, but such votes of the town and other 
record and mention of the schools as we have been able 
to find will be gathered in this chapter, not always in 
chronological order probably. 

The manner of teaching- as well as the matter taught in 
those later years of the eighteenth century would doubt- 
less seem very primitive to persons at the present day. In 
the "Annals of Winchester" there is an interesting account 
of a school exhibition in that town in the spring of 1794, 
from which I will quote, as it shows what the Winchester 
boys and girls of those days could do, and nothing of a sim- 
ilar record of the Norfolk schools of that day has yet come 
to light. 

Mr. Boyd says: "Little of detail is known in respect to 
the schools supported in the districts prior to 1795. We 
know, however, that several echoolhouses were built, and 
that they swarmed with pupils. We know, too, that good 
teachers were employed, and tliat the mass of the p)eople 
were well instructed in all the branches of common school 
education. We have before us some of the early reminis- 
cences of a lady bom in 1786, which illustrate the school 
customs and mental culture at the period referred to, from 
which we extract her notice "of the great day of examina- 
tions and exhibitions," when eight district schools assem- 
bled in the large unfinished meeting-house in the winter 
of 1793-4. 

"The reading and spelling of the schools occupied the forenoon, 
and the afternoon was devoted to dramas, comedies, orations, etc. 
One corner of the church was enclosed in curtains, and each school 
took its turn behind the scenes to prepare for their special exhibi- 
tions on the stage. The late Deacon Levi Piatt was the teacher of 
the school to which I belonged. Well do I remember the directions 
given by him to the little girls, as to dressing their hair for exhibi- 
tion, viz.: The night previous our mothers were to wet our heads 
with home-brewed beer, and our hair was to be combed and braided 
very tightly before going to bed. In the morning the last thing 
after we were dressed for the exhibition, the braids were taken out 



270 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

aud the hair lay iu waving lines all over our shoulders. Among the 
variety of things he taught us was the practice of spelling a whole 
sentence all together, or more particularly the first class. 

"In the afternoon each school had its oration, poem, dialogue, 
comedy or tragedy, etc. The boys of this period were remarkable for 
their successful imitations of every kind of business. Mock courts 
were held. Writs, attachments, and executions were all made out 
in due form. A statute book of laws was compiled, specifying a great 
variety of things contrary to law, for which culprits would be arrested, 
tried and punished. Witnesses were summoned, examined, cross- 
examined, impeached, etc. 

A newspaper was edited and published weekly, by some of the 
scholars. It was ruled in columns, had editorials, news, anecdotes, 
advertisements, etc. These boys at that time were none of them 
over twelve years old." 

What a glimpse the report given above furnishes us of 
the teachers and the young people in the schools 100 years 
ago; of the mental activity, their resources in way of 
amusements and entertainments. 

The writer well remembers what a great event 'examina- 
tion day' was in one of the small district schools here in 
Norfolk at the close of the winter term of school, fifty and 
more years ago; how we were reminded daily by our 
teacher for weeks beforehand, what we would be expected 
to know in our various studies, and what we would be 
asked to do on 'examination day, when Mr. Eldridge would 
be there,' and our parents and other visitors, and how the 
importance of being well prepared for that great event 
was held up before us for weeks in advance; — a type of 
'the dread judgment day.' 

School districts were established in this town at an early 
day, as the records abundantly show, and schools that were 
up to the time were maintained. In 1762 Mr. Bobbins, the 
first minister here, opened a high school, or Academy as it 
might now be called, in which, with other branches, he 
taught the languages, and fitted a large number of young 
men for College; continuing his school until the later years 
of his life. 

December 21, 1767, in town meeting it was "Voted, that where 
ten families or more in any part of the town shall agree together to 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 271 

set up and keep a school among themselves, and shall do it to the 
acceptance and satisfaction of the selectmen of the town, they 
shall draw their part of school money in said town, according to 
their lists." 

March 18, 1777. "Voted, that the middle district for schooling 
shall have liberty to set up a school house on the meeting house 
green, about four or five rods northerly from said meeting house, of 
30 feet long and 20 feet wide." This first school house was built on 
the green, but nearly in front of where the Academy stands, on the 
S. E. side of the green. When the school house with the Conference 
room in the second story was built in 1819, where the stone Chapel 
now stands, on "the green," Mr. Lemuel Aiken owned the place and 
lived in the house just south, and he was not pleased at having the 
school house built in front of bis land, thus taking the front of the 
best lot he had, and the best location anywhere around the green, 
and so long as he lived he never felt really reconciled to it. 

December 14, 1780, it was "Voted, that from Goshen line on the 
road northwardly to and including the now dwelling house of Friend 
Thrall be made a distinct district for a school, and draw their pro- 
portion of public monies." 

1783. "Voted to set off a school district taking in Titus Brown's 
Farm on the north, and to take in all the inhabitants south on 
Groshen road, Elias Balcom, and the two families of Sweets." 

Quoting from Roys' History:— "We again find it interesting to 
trace their slow but sure progress in Improvement in the Incipient 
stage of the settlement. While they were engaged In the important 
pursuit of building their meeting house, sufficient it would seem 
from the zeal exhibited, almost entirely to engross their attention 
and occupy their time, yet they were not unmindful of the necessity 
of educating their children, and preparing them for future useful- 
ness. Schools were early established and encouraged by every 
means in their power. Limited indeed were the means;— their funds 
were low and their books few. The following books composed the 
library of the pupil:— the Bible, the New England Primer, contain- 
ing the assembly of divines' Shorter Catechism, Dllworth's Spelling 
Book, containing a few pages of grammar, his Schoolmaster's As- 
sistant, containing the ground rules of arithmetic, and some rules 
quite too abstruse for the juvenile scholar. The writing scholar 
took his first lesson on the bark of the white birch, or was restricted 
to the use of a few s'heets of paper whereon to learn that useful art. 
His indulgent and kind mother made his ink from the bark of the 
soft maple or the berries of the sumach. His ingenious father made 
him an ink-horn, properly so called, of the tip of a cow's horn, and 
set it in a round wooden bottom. Thus accoutered he hied away 
with cheerful steps to his school house, in some instances far dis- 



272 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

taut, there to spend the day in the sultry and confined summer heat, 
or the piercing cold of winter. The teachers were instructed from 
the same source and in the same way, taken for a few weeks from 
their domestic employments to "teach the young idea how to shoot, 
and pour instruction into the mind." 

One still living, speaking of the district schools here 
three-quarters of a century nearly ago, says: "In the South 
End District we then had a large school, and one of the 
best in town, with the best of male teachers for the winter 
to be had in the region; men competent to teach Algebra 
and the higher Mathematics, — Astronomy, Chemistry, and 
other Sciences." 

In those early days the only pens in use were quill-pens, 
and a necessary requirement of every teacher was ability 
to make these pens, which required some little skill and 
practice, in the use of a "pen-knife," and in the Yankee art 
of fine whittling, which art possibly not all the young la- 
dies of the present day possess. 

Mr. Salmon Swift, a native and for most of his life a well 
known and respected resident of the town, now past four 
score years of age, who attended school in the centre dis- 
trict here, writes regarding early schools: "Sereno Petti- 
bone, brother of Judge Augustus Pettibone, was the first 
to teach a select school in town. He was thoroughly edu- 
cated, and a man of ability. He taught in the Conference- 
room. The lower room was always occupied by small chil- 
dren; sometimes they numbered as high as a hundred and 
over, and the school in the upper room was partly to re- 
lieve the pressure in the room below. Some of Mr. Petti- 
bone's scholars were Mr. E. Grove Lawrence, Dr. James 
Welch, Frederick Mills, and other young men of that day. 
I can recall the names of some of the teachers; there was 
a Mr. Cross, a Mr. Swift, and others. As I write the mem- 
ory of those childhood days comes back to me very vividly. 
The school-house, the door, with a split panel, the benches 
and walls covered with jack-knife carvings, and then the 
memory of the punishments that I received. I stood very 
high in that regard; much higher than anyone else in 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 273 

school, but somehow I never could account for it. That 
fact never seemed to excite the envy of the rest of the 
school. 

"The teachers in that early day were, some of them, very 
cruel and tyrannical. I recall one by the name of George 
Duncan, who taught in the lower room. One of the older 
boys who no doubt had 'felt the halter draw,' indulged in 
a verse of poetry. It was this: — 

"I saw the devil flying south; 
He had George Duncan in his mouth. 
He turned around and dropped the fool, 
And sent him here to keep our school." 

''I think Mr. Duncan was thrown out of school. At any 
rate the one after him, whose name I have forgotten, was 
thrown out by the large boys. He had a ferule about eigh- 
teen inches long, with square holes through it, that at 
every blow would raise a blister, when he feruled any of 
the pupils. 

"Many funny things take place as we pass through life, 
which give a zest to our existence, and are indelibly fixed 
in our minds, although not of much consequence. Such a 
case was a boy about fifteen or sixteen years old who at- 
tended our school. He was bright enough, but a sad tru- 
ant to his books. He had to spell out his words, but when 
he thought he was all right for three or four words he read 
with great rapidity. The principal reading book in schools 
at that time was the Testament. We were reading where 
Christ says, "woe unto you ye blind guides who strain at 
a gnat and swallow a camel." This boy read it with great 
rapidity, "strain at a gate and swallow a corn-mill." 

I quote from an address read by Mr. Henry H. Eddy, Li- 
brarian at the Norfolk Library, at the "Celebration of its 
Tenth Anniversary, March 6, 1899." "As early as 1768 the 
town voted to open and support a school at the Center, if 
ten, or even six families were found who needed that help. 
This was the conduct of the town in matters of education 
during all the ensuing years, and in 1780 the parsonage, 



274 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

the grounds where the Bobbins' School now stands, and 
the school lands were leased for 999 years. In 1796 the 
School Society was formed, and all school funds trans- 
ferred to their hands, as hitherto the church and state had 
been one in many cases, and all religious and secular duties 
had been directed by the church society, 

^'Rev. Mr. Bobbins' school at the Parsonage was in a 
flourishing condition at this time, and Rev. Thomas Rob- 
bins in his diary makes mention of boys being refusecl 
entrance, as the complement of scholars was full; also of 
his examining his father's scholars from time to time, and 
at various intervals of having complete charge of them, 
while his renowned father was absent at Williams Col- 
lege attending to his duties as trustee of that institution, 
or perhaps at some neighboring town attending a confer- 
ence of divines, 

''In 1798 Isaac Holt left a legacy of |4o to the society, 
the interest to be expended for the schooling of some 
worthy child. The first lady teacher of whom I have record 
is a Miss Phoebe Guiteau, — a member of the old Guiteau 
family of this town, which furnished several doctors and 
prominent oflflcials to the community. She taught before 
1800, but further than this there is no record. Between 
1800 and 1819 Mrs. Sarah Reeder was the most prominent 
teacher, — a talented and accomplished lady, whose select 
school was well patronized, and the maps dated and made 
by the scholars have come down to this day. Miss ZilpaJi 
Grant was for a term a pupil of Mrs. Reeder. 

''This school continued for many years, and at last a 
Mr. Stephen Peet was at the head of it. During this same 
period Mr. Serene Pettibone held a school in the Butler 
house at the North End for the benefit of the families in 
that part of the town,— and at Pond Hill, then known as 
the Paug District, Miss Susannah Welch taught and flour- 
ished between the years of 1809 and 1816. As the number 
of scholars increased the Society felt the need of larger 
accommodations, and in 1819, at a cost of |1,000, built the 
old Conference Boom on the site of the Battell Chapel. 



HISTOEY OF NORFOLK. 275 

The upper part was used as a conference room for the 
church, and for many years also as a school-room, and the 
lower room for the Center school. 

"Rev. Mr. Peet, the successor of Mrs. Sarah Reeder, was 
probably the first teacher to make use of the new build- 
ing, and he was helped from time to time by young college 
graduates, among them being a Mr. Henry M. Swift, a Mr, 
Cross, and a Mr, Willis. . , . 

'Mmong the many names of women who taught between 
the years 1820 and 1830, that of Miss Alice Welch seems 
to take the foremost place, and to be surrounded by mem- 
ories filled with affection and devotion. Some of the oldest 
towns-people can still recall the hours spent under her 
care and guidance. She was a woman of superior mind, 
and not only looked after the mental training of her schol- 
ars, but also of the spiritual, for she took especial pains 
every Saturday afternoon to give a scripture lesson to the 
children, either from a certain topic chosen beforehand, or 
from the "Assembly of Divines' Catechism." 

"Monday morning was also a special half day set aside 
for religious exercises, when the children were made to 
repeat the sermon of the day before, — and the inattentive 
and forgetful ones did not always love the first exercise of 
the week or reach a high state of perfection in it. 

"As was the custom in those days, she boarded in the 
different homes represented in her school, and it was al- 
ways a red letter day for a scholar when it came his turn 
to take the teacher home. 

"She also taught two seasons in the East Middle district, 
and when she went to the people in the North district, 
many of her former pupils from the Center, notwithstand- 
ing the added walk to and from school, followed her, to 
have the benefit of her instruction. During the seasons 
of 1828 and 1829 she kept a select school in the Conference 
Room, and from there went to Mr. Joseph Emerson's 
School at Byfield, not returning again to Norfolk in her 
capacity as teacher. 

"Another teacher of this period was Miss Susan Ames, 



276 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

who kept an independent school in a small building, for- 
merly the oflBce of Mr. Edmund Aiken, an Attorney, — which 
stood between the old Aiken-Dowd house and the Eldridge 
residence. She in turn was succeeded by Miss Cornelia 
Rockwell of Colebrook, who came from there to take the 
school, and continued in charge during the period Miss 
Welch was teaching at the North End. 

"The successor to Miss Welch as teacher of the school 
kept by her in 1828 and 1829 was Miss Eliza Norton. She 
was a woman of influence and character, and her name and 
memory are dear to all who attended her school. She 
continued her school in the Conference Room, while Miss 
Stark kept a school of different grade in the room below. 
Twenty pupils was the average for the school, patronized 
by most of the families in the Center. The elder Mr. Battell 
was deeply interested in it, and paid the tuition of two 
pupils and saw that the furnishings of the place were kept 
in good condition. A new stove appeared at one time, and 
the entire place was reseated at his expense. 

"Miss Norton taught for most of the period between 1832 
and 1836, when she was succeeded by her brother, John F. 
Norton of Goshen, who was so successful that by 1838 there 
were upwards of seventy pupils under his charge. The 
next year, the need of still greater accommodations being 
felt, an Academy Corporation was formed for the purpose 
of building an academy, and in 1840 such a building was 
erected on the east side of the Green, for the sum of $2,000. 
As the career of Mr. Norton had been so successful he was 
appointed first principal, and continued as such until du- 
ties outside of the town took him away." "John Foote Nor- 
ton, son of Dea. Lewis Mills Norton of Goshen, was born 
September, 1809. Graduated from Hartford Theological 
Seminary 1837. Spent some months travelling in Europe. 
Became principal of the Academy in Norfolk in 1838, which 
position he held for four years. Was pastor of a Church in 
Athol, Mass., and several other places. Died in Natick, 
Mass., Nov., 1892." 
At a meeting of the Ecclesiastical Society April 29, 1839, 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 277 

it was "Voted to accommodate Rev. John F. Norton with 
the use of the Conference Room for his school for one year, 
he to be uninterrupted by any meetings during school 
hours, and without expense to him; and should there be 
wanted any ordinary and necessary repairs in consequence 
of his use of it, the expense shall be defrayed by subscrip- 
tion." 

The writer feels fortunate in being able to insert here 
a copy of a "Catalogue of the Trustees, Instructors, Books 
used, Tuition, etc., of Norfolk Academy for the year 1840," 
this Catalogue having been preserved by the family of Ed- 
mund Brown, Esq., v.'hose two sons and two of his daugh- 
ters were enrolled as students: 

"Trustees. 
Augustus Pettibone, Esq., President. 
Benjamin Weloh, Jun., M. D., Clerk. 
Joseph Battelle, Esq. "Instructors. 

Rev. Joseph Eldridge. John F. Norton, Pi-incipal. 

Dudley Norton. Mrs. H. F. Norton, 

Hiram Gaylord. Edward Norton, 

Joseph Battelle, Jun. Robert Norton, 

Warren Gone." Assistants." 

"Norfolk Academy, 
"This institution, situated in Norfolk, Litchfield County, Conn., 
has been in successful operation under the direction of its present 
principal for nearly two years. The place is healthy and easy of ac- 
cess; the inhabitants are moral; the government of the school is 
strict but mild, and it is the aim of the Instructors to make the 
course of studies practical and thorough. 

Board, including washing, fuel and lights, may be obtained in 
respectable families at from $1.50 to $1.75 per week. 
Tuition per quarter of eleven weeks. 
For the common English branches $3.00. 
For the higher English branches $4.00. 
For the Ancient Languages and French $5.00. 
The next Term will commence February 8: — the Summer Term 
May 5:— the Fall Term August 18:— the Winter Term November 17. 

Among the books used in the Academy are the following:— The 
Bible, Webster's Dictionary, National Preceptor, Reader's Guide, 
Smith's Grammar, Daboll's and Smith's New Arithmetic, Mitchell's 
Geography, Comstock's Natural Philosophy and Chemistry, Aber- 
crombies's Mental Philosophy, Burrett's Geography of the Heavens, 



275 HISTORY OF NOEFOLK. 

Watts on the Mind, Goodrich's History of the United States, Whelp- 
ley's Compend of History, Playfair's Euclid, Day's Algebra, Flint's 
Sm-veying, Harris' Book-keeping, Manual of the Constitution of the 
United States, Boeuf's French Grammar. French Lessons, together 
■with the standard preparatory works in the Latin and Greek Lan- 
guages. 

The books used in the Academy can be obtained in the village 
at the current prices. 

A neat and commodious edifice has been erected for the Institu- 
tion during the past season." 

In the Library Anniversary address, further mention is 
made of the primary school, practically a 'kindergarten,' 
of which Miss Margaret Nettleton, late Mrs. Eollin Beecher, 
was the successful head, as follows: — 

"The last of the old fashioned private schools was kept 
by Miss Margaret and Miss Desiah Nettleton between the 
3'ears 1849 and 1871, in their house, now occupied by Mrs. 
Mary Aiken Curtiss. Morals and. manners played as im- 
portant a part in its curriculum as any branch of learning. 
The great sunny room on the south was used for the school, 
and the boys and girls sat upon long benches placed across 
the room. Miss Margaret taught the pupils their letters, 
and by her gentle rule over them acquired an influence for 
good that made a lasting impression on the young boys 
and girls, and her face seemed beautiful to all her scholars. 

. . . The Bible was one of the principal sources of in- 
struction, and each pupil recited a verse every morning, 
and by the time they were eight years old were supposed 
to know the names of the books of the Old Testament by 
heart. Miss Desiah, with other useful things, taught the 
children sewing, and both boys and girls were compelled 
to take up this useful branch of learning, and by the time 
they were through the school, could work on the pieced 
counterpanes of that day. The favorite mode of punish- 
ment was to shut the misbehaved in the narrow back hall- 
way, and leave them there in the dark until repentance 
came. The great honor was to be allowed to fill the water- 
pail at the spring, the other side of the brook, on the old 
parsonage grounds, and after trudging back with it, some- 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 279 

times losing much in the return journey, to ladle the water 
out to the other scholars, in the large tin dipper provided 
for the purpose." 

Mr. William B. Rice succeeded Mr. Andrews as principal 
of the Academy, commencing in 1846, and during all his 
residence here he was a member of the School Board, and 
one of the School Visitors. He was a native of Williams- 
burg, Mass., a graduate of Williams College, and for twelve 
years taught the Norfolk Academy, being the most suc- 
cessful teacher the Academy ever had. While he was prin- 
cipal, the school was large, flourishing, and had a wide rep- 
utation, drawing, especially for the winter terms, pupils 
not only from this and the adjoining towns in this county, 
and from towns in Massachusetts, but also a considerable 
number of young men from New York City, Staten Island 
and vicinity. 

In 1858 Mr. Rice left the Academy to engage in business 
at Pittsfield, Mass., with Mr. Joseph K. Kilbourn, a native 
of this town. His interest in schools and his reputation 
therein followed him to his new home, and for a long period 
of years he has been a member of the Board of Public 
Schools of Pittsfield, and for nine years was their Superin- 
tendent of Schools. 

The town of Norfolk owes a lasting debt of gratitude 
also, which it can never pay, to Mr. William B. Rice, for 
what he did, with others, in the movement for the fencing 
of the green and the planting of trees therein, which work 
is mentioned in connection with the park. 

At a celebration of the tenth anniversary of the found- 
ing of the Robbins' School in this town, October 10th, 1894, 
Mr. Rice was one of the speakers, and as a copy of his ad- 
dress most fortunately has been preserved, some extracts 
are given herewith. Mr. Rice said: — 

''It affords me great pleasure to be here to participate 
in this reunion of a school which I am led to believe stands 
as a fit exponent of sound educational principles and 
methods. The presence of an old time teacher with his old 
time notions, if he happens to give expression to any, may 



280 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

serve by contrast, to sharpen and intensify the impression 
that great advance has been made in recent years in the 
matter of public instruction. Norfolk has always had 
special attractions to me. I love her hills, her valleys and 
streams. I am glad to have been identified with her past; 
to have had some small part in the work of her improve- 
ment and adornment; and again let me say, I am glad to 
be here. 

^I first visited Norfolk in the spring of 1846, coming from 
Canaan on foot, — the speediest mode of locomotion at my 
command, reaching Norfolk some three or four hours in 
advance of Jluggins' stage, the only public conveyance at 
that time in these parts. The spring town meeting, state 
election, was held that year in the meeting-house. The 
building was repaired that year, and no more town meet- 
ings were ever held there. It was arranged at that time 
that I should take charge of the Academy in the fall. Early 
in September the school term began. Two pupils appeared, 
— Kemington and Bobbins. We adjourned for a week and 
began again. The whole number of pupils for the term 
was nineteen. 

'The winter term opened the Monday after Thanksgiving 
with a much larger attendance, — 40 or 50 I think. From 
that time until the spring of 1858 I continued in charge, 
being absent one summer term; the attendance being about 
80 or 35 in summer, and from 50 to 70 in the winter. Many 
pupils came from other towns. The larger boys and young 
men worked during the summer and attended school in 
winter, a custom not entirely without its advantages. This 
absence from school was somewhat, but not so very much, 
longer than the summer vacation of the present day, and 
they entered with as much zest upon their studies in the 
fall as do the young people of today after the long vacation. 

'The younger pupils were taught after a pretty well de- 
fined course, in reading, spelling, arithmetic, geography, 
grammar, and history, especially of the United States, with 
generally satisfactory results. The studies of the olderpupils 
were such as each one chose, — somewhat after the modern 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 281 

plan of some of our colleges, — optional or elective, and in- 
cluded arithmetic, grammar, algebra, mental philosophy, 
Latin, Greek, etc. Most of them knew pretty well what 
they wanted, and I made it my business to give them what 
they wanted, to the best of my ability. Their notions as 
to the value of education were decidedly utilitarian. As to 
educational theories, I am not aware that I had any. The 
object aimed at steadily and persistently was, to lead the 
boys and girls to think for themselves; to look at the sub- 
jects under consideration in a common sense way. A select 
sentence in one of our reading books ran thus: "Fine sense 
and exalted sense are not half so valuable as common 
sense;" and we believed and acted accordingly. So whether 
it was a problem in arithmetic or algebra, or a difficult sen- 
tence that was under consideration, appeal was made to 
common sense. The discipline thus gained was of far more 
value than the knowledge gained in the process, and thus 
was developed and strengthened that faculty, which in men 
and women is so difficult to define, so easy of recognition. 
It was not an uncommon thing for a pupil in the course of 
the winter session to work his way through Adams' or 
Thompson's arithmetic, — doing as much work and doing 
it well, as is done in modern graded schools in two or 
three years. This is to be regarded simply as a statement 
of fact, — not as a criticism, for the multiplicity of studies 
is doubtless responsible for much of the difference. Let 
me say in passing, that in my opinion arithmetic fills much 
too large a space in our school courses. 

'Much attention was given to reading and spelling. In- 
telligent reading is the very foundation on which to build 
the entire educational superstructure. Without it, one 
grapples in vain with a written problem in arithmetic, or 
a difficult construction in language. 

'The net result of those years of work, on the part of 
pupils and teachers, combined with the excellent moral, 
religious and social environment, was a goodly number 
of noble young men and women, well equipped to do duty 
as citizens, and to exert a healthful influence in the com- 



282 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

munity; and I take it, the primal, essential object of ail 
our schools, is good citizenship. 

'Many pupils excelled in scholarship, quite as much to 
their credit as to that of the school. One whose name now 
stands among the highest in his special sphere, was for a 
considerable period on the roll of its membership — Prof. 
Asaph Hall, then of Goshen, and for many years engaged 
in the public service at the National observatory, who is 
now retired, I believe, at the advanced age of 62 years, 
famous the world over as the discoverer of the moons of 
Mars, and never better fitted to do his country and the 
world effective service than now. For enthusiastic devo- 
tion to his chosen profession, and complete equipment for 
effective work in it, I have never known his superior. I 
do not mention him as one who owes anything to the Nor- 
folk school, but as one who has done much to honor him- 
self and us, and one whom I am sure we all delight to 
honor. I often recall with pleasure a visit to the obser- 
vatory at Georgetown while he was in charge, and the 
magnificent spectacle of Jupiter and his satellites, and of 
Saturn and his rings and moons, as seen through the great 
equatorial. 

'Some of the boys became preachers of the gospel; some 
became lawyers, others successful business men; many 
have been elected by their fellow citizens to places of trust 
and responsibility, and have doubtless discharged their 
duties well. One fills acceptably the office of president of 
the board of trade in the largest city in this state, and is 
happy in having escaped the perils of a voyage undertaken 
in the interest of pleasure and science toward the Arctic 
pole. And if I am not mistaken, the candidate for an im- 
portant office on one of the state tickets this year is one 
of our boys." 

The first one of his 'boys' to whom Mr. Rice refers above 
is James Dudley Dewell, a native of Norfolk, who since 
that time has served his native town and state most hon- 
orably and acceptably as the Lieutenant Governor. 

The other 'boy' referred to was Lorrin A. Cooke, who 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 283 

since the date of Mr. Rice's address has been elected to and 
honorably filled the office of Lieutenant Governor, and then 
Governor of this State. 

''The last fifty years have witnessed great improvement 
in our schools, and the attitude of the people toward them, 
especially in public schools. . . . 

During my stay in Norfolk I attended a teachers' insti- 
tute at Litchfield, — one of the first, if not the first, institute 
of the kind ever held in Litchfield County. More distinctly 
than anything else do I remember a spelling exercise, with 
which the first day's session closed. There were present 
fifty-eight teachers. A list of twenty-five words was given, 
to be written by each member of the institute. It was a 
fair list of words, such as teachers might reasonably be 
expected to be able to spell, — maintenance, emigrant, immi- 
grant, separate, twelfth, Cincinnati, hare-lip, — were among 
them, and as difficult as any in the list. Of the aggregate 
1,450 spellings, over 1,100 were wrong. One spelled 24 
out of the 25 words wrong. Only one was marked with 
but one mistake." 

Tlie one with "but one mistake," was Mr. William B. Rice of 
Norfolk, who, as he told us in school afterwards, wrote both h-a-r-e 
and h-a-i-r-lip, and this was marked against him as a mistake. 

"I trust Litchfield County would make a better showing 
today. It is good to live in times like these. I sometimes 
think that we who can go back in memory forty or fifty 
years, have an advantage over the young, in being able to 
measure more accurately the progress that has been made, 
not in educational matters only, but in all departments of 
human effort. They are somewhat in the position of one 
who inherits an ample fortune, and does not know how to 
appreciate the real value of money, does not know the 
worth of a dollar because he never earned one. 

A little more than fifty years ago, Daguerre invented 
photography, and now you have but to touch the button 
and the machine does the rest. In 1844 Morse erected the 
first electric telegraph between Washington and Baltimore, 



284 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

and now in the early morning we have news from all the 
world over of yesterday's doings. A speech is finished in 
the British parliament at three o'clock in the morning, and 
by two o'clock of the same morning it is printed in the 
city of New York. The wonderful development of the rail- 
way system of the world have been observed from be- 
ginning to end by men now living. It is only 65 years since 
the trial trip of the steamboat Rocket between Manchester 
and Liverpool; only 69 years since passengers and goods 
were first drawn by a locomotive on the Stockton and Darl- 
ington railway. Less than 20 years ago the telephone was 
invented, and later still, electricity has been harnessed to 
machinery, and forced to yield us light and power. Medical 
science and surgery have wrought wonders; many a dis- 
eased one has been made w^hole; many a blind one has 
gladly cried out, "Whereas I was blind now I see." These 
are a few of the wonderful instances of material progress 
with which our age abounds. Truly the youth of this day 
enter upon a magnificent inheritance. 

I sincerely hope that the Bobbins School has many pros- 
perous years before it; that its honored surviving founder 
may long live to see it grow in power and influence; that 
it may be an influence for good in individual lives, — a stim- 
ulus to improvement in every school of the town, and of 
all this region, alike a model and an inspiration." 

Among some interesting documents belonging to the 
Norfolk Library is an Arithmetic in manuscript, which 
probably belonged to one of the sons of Ebenezer Burr, a 
teacher, in 1762. Some of the "Questions," which were 
evidently given to his scholars to answer, are of interest, 
showing what the boys and girls of that day had to do, 
such as the following: — 

"Reduction of Long Measure.' 
"The Earth and sea in circumference are said to be 360 Degrees. 
I demand how many Barley corns will encompass the same." 

"From Norfolk to Hartford is 41 miles. I demand wliat Barley 
corns will reach it." 

"Reduction of Time." 
"Since the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, is 1762 years. I de- 
mand how many seconds." 



fflSTORY OF NORFOLK. 285 

"Oliver Burr was born February 21, 1744, Old Style, and 'tis 
now February 25, 1762, New Style. I demand his age in seconds." 

Under the "Rule of Three," some rules are first given, and then 
several examples. "In this rule are three numbers given, to find a 
fourth, two of which are always to be of the same name, and must 
be put in the first and third places, and reduced to the least name 
of either of them. Also the second number must be brought into 
its least name. Then observe, if more requires more, or less re- 
quires less, then the question is direct. But if more requires less, or 
less requires more, then the question is reverse. If the question be 
direct, you must multiply the second and third numbers together 
and divide by the first; but if the question be reverse, you must 
multiply the first and second numbers together, and divide by the 
third." "Note: The Quotient in each operation will be of the same 
name with that you left the second number in." 

"Question 5. If an army of 20,000 men eat 15,000 Barrels of 
pork in a month, how long will that feed an army of 4500 men?" 

"Question 8. If a pin a day be a groat a year, what is 1000 pins 
worth?" 

"Question 13. Two men, A & B, set out from one place. A goes 
40 miles a day, and on the 4th day after is pursued by B, who goes 
50 miles a day. I demand how long and after how much travel B 
shall overtake A?" . 

"Question 20. There are 5000 soldiers in a garrison who have 
only 200 barrels of pork for six months, and one barrel will serve 
ten soldiers six months. I demand how many of them must quit 
the garrison that the rest may be sustained -with that provision?" 

"Question 23. .Jupiter in his journey to the earth went at the 
rate of 15 rods in a second, and was three months in coming. Query: 
How far does he live from the earth?" 

"Question 24. A merchant ships to his Factum 184 pieces of 
stuff with orders to sell them at £7 10s per piece, and draw com- 
missions at 5 per cent, and to ship the net proceeds home, half in 
wine at £6 10s per liogshead, and half in raisins at 10s 6d per 
hundred. How much of each sort must 'he have returned?" 

"Here endeth the Single Rule of Three." 

Then follows "The Double Rule of Three," and "The rule of 
Fellowship." 

"Example 1. Three farmers hire a shepherd to keep sheep six 
months, for £12. A commits 360 sheep to his care, B 535, and C 
700. I demand what each man must pay the shepherd?" 

These are given simply as sample questions, of Burr's 
old manuscript Arithmetic. 

At a special town meeting January, 1837, it was "voted, 



286 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

that this town will receive its proportion of the money 
which may be deposited with this state by the United 
States in pursuance of the act of Congress entitled, "An act 
to regulate the deposits of the public money, . . . the 
surplus funds belonging to the United States, and appro- 
priating the interest accruing therefrom for the promotion 
of education and other purposes." Levi Shepard was ap- 
pointed agent of this town to receive from the treasurer 
of this state the proportion of the said money belonging to 
this town, Oliver B. Butler was appointed treasurer to 
receive said money from the agent of the town, and 
Thomas Curtiss and E. Grove Lawrence were appointed 
agents to conduct the business of loaning the money. The 
agents were limited to |500 as a loan to one person; the 
loans to be made to the inhabitants of this town only, and 
double security on land required in every case of loan. This 
was called the "Town Deposit Fund," and continues to the 
present time; the amount being nearly 14,000, and the in- 
terest therefrom was appropriated to the promotion of 
Education in the common schools of this town, to be di- 
vided "equally to each school district." Later one-half the 
interest on this fund was appropriated to the ordinary ex- 
penses of the town, and one-half to the support of schools. 

"October, 1846, E. Grove Lawrence, Erastus Smith and 
Elizur Dowd were chosen a committee to confer with the 
proprietors of the Academy in this town respecting the use 
and occupancy of said Academy building occasionally for 
town meetings, etc., and if thought best to see how a part 
of it can be purchased and added to and report." 

November, 1846. The "Selectmen were authorized to ne- 
gotiate with the incorporation of the Norfolk Academy 
for the purchase of the lower room of said Academy, to- 
gether with the equal undivided half of the land belonging 
to the same, at a sum not to exceed |750. Said building 
so purchased to be used as a town-house for the transaction 
of the necessary town business." 

In April, 1818, it was "Voted to give the middle school 
district liberty to erect a school-house east of the travelling 




z 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 287 

road by the meeting-house, on the ground near where the 
timber now lies." The town clerk added the following: 
''The vote not being sufiSciently explicit respecting the 
exact site, I examined the ground and found it to be about 
West from the present school-house. Auren Roys." ''The 
center school-house and Conference-room was built in 
1819," on the site of the present stone Chapel. 

The above vote and location would indicate that at that 
time the travelled road still ran west of the meeting-house, 
where it was originally laid. The first school-house in the 
'Middle District' stood on the green, about in front of the 
present old Academy building, and the school-house and 
Conference room were built in 1819 about west from that 
point. 

THE PARK. 

At the time of the first settlement of the town, a reser- 
vation of what was called "the meeting-house green," was 
made by a kind of general understanding apparently. If 
any formal, definite action, fixing the bounds of this reser- 
vation, was made, this writer has failed up to this time to 
discover it. In about 1845, one hundred years after the first 
settlement of the town, an effort was made by a committee 
appointed by the town, to discover and fix the bounds of 
the green, as will be fully shown a little later from the 
records of the town of that date. The first road coming 
from the south, as is mentioned in another chapter, passed 
west of the old residence of Kev, Mr. Robbins, the site of 
the present Robbins School, and then on, crossing the site 
of the present Chapel, west of the meeting-house, "about 
where Mr. Battell's house now stands, along on the summit 
of the ledge," as is given in Dr. Thomas Robbins' Century 
Sermon. It seems probable that this original highway was 
the west line of the green; but the exact location and width 
of that highway it is difficult to determine. From Roys' 
History we learn that the land here was covered with 
large hemlocks and maples. Speaking of the old meeting- 
house, he says: "The outside was painted with what was 



288 HISTOEY OF NOKFOLK. 

called a peach-blow color, which must have appeared a 
glaring contrast to the somber hue of the thick and lofty 
trees which then surrounded it, so dense that in coming 
from the south it was not seen until entering the lower 
part of the triangular green, now in use, and cleared of the 
incumbrance of lofty hemlocks and wide spreading maples, 
etc." In this same locality he mentions ''rocks, deeply im- 
bedded, that had lain undisturbed since creation; . . . 
yet some remain as a specimen of the once rough appear- 
ance of the surface." Probably not less than twenty-five 
years after the settlement of the town passed before all 
of this forest primeval was removed and the ground in a 
measure cleared. If only we had a photograph of the old 
meeting-house and the green as it looked then, how inter- 
esting it would be. In his Century Sermon Dr. Thomas 
Kobbins says, "the shade trees on this green were set out in 
the spring of 1788. They were Elms and Buttonwoods. 
The number set out was 57. Numbers of them failed the 
first year, and many others afterward, for want of due pro- 
tection. The green was ploughed and levelled in 1809." 
We may be sure that some of the stumps of the old trees 
remained at this time, even if the trees themselves were all 
gone. The writer remembers one of the old Buttonwoods 
long since gone and forgotten, that stood fifty years ago 
in front of the Conference room. Of the original elms, not 
more than seven remain. Three of the seven stand at the 
north-east corner of the park. Upon one of these, many 
years ago. Rev. Mr. Gleason, it is said, when pastor here, 
placed a tablet of wood, which still bears these lines: 

"Voices of the Elms." 
"Caesar saw fifty; we, an hundred years. 
"Still green, an hundred more we'll stand like seers, 
"And watch the generations, as they go, 
"Beneath our branches in their ceaseless flow." 

Some records of the efforts made in about 1845, to "as- 
certain and establish the lines of the center public green," 
by committees appointed by the town, are given. That they 
were entirely successful does not seem quite clear. 



HISTOEY OF NORFOLK. 289 

At a town meeting held October 16, 1843, "Joseph Riggs 
and E. Grove Lawrence were appointed a committee to sur- 
vey the Center public green, and establish permanent 
hounds." 

October, 1845, "Joseph Riggs, Michael G. Mills and Uri 
Butler w^ere appointed to ascertain the lines of the center 
public green and highways surrounding it, and if necessary 
to employ Judge Burrell to make the survey." 

October 20, 1845, the same committee were empowered 
to compromise and agree with the inhabitants near and 
around the center green who are particularly concerned in 
the late survey of the premises and to report at a future 
meeting. 

October 27, 1845, "Voted to accept the doings of the 
Committee appointed to survey the public center green, 
and the highway surrounding it, and authorized the above 
committee still to jjroceed in the business assigned them, 
and compromise and agree with the inhabitants concerned, 
respecting lines, and any claim the town may have upon 
individuals, and report." 

November 3, 1845, "Voted to authorize the committee ap- 
pointed to survey the center green to employ Judge Burrell 
to assist them in further attempts to ascertain the accurate 
lines and bounds of said green, and the highway surround- 
ing it, and report to a future meeting." November 17, 1845, 
"Voted, to authorize the committee lately appointed to sur- 
vey the green and the highway around it to make a com- 
promise with all or a part of the inhabitants adjoining said 
premises; and the selectmen are hereby authorized to give 
a deed to any of the inhabitants aforesaid which said com- 
mittee shall agree with, and receive a deed from any or all 
those with whom they have compromised." 

April 2, 1849. "The Selectmen were authorized to en- 
close the public green with a good and suitable fence, ex- 
pending fl.OO on each rod, payable from the town treasury, 
provided |1.00 more shall be raised for the same purpose 
by subscription from individuals." 

The following warning of a town meeting is found upon 



290 HISTOET OF NOKFOLK. 

the records of the town: — ''There will be a special town 
meeting at the town hall on Monday, the 7th instant, at 
one o'clock, to take into consideration the location of the 
fence around the public green, and to do any other business 
proper to be done." The month or year is not stated, there 
is no date to the warning, and no record that the meeting 
has yet been held. The next entry upon the record is a 
notice for a town meeting on February 7th, 1853, to con- 
sider "the removing of the ledge of rocks and covering them 
so as to make the travelling part of the road as near the 
elm tree as practicable on the northwest corner of the 
public green, near the sign-post, so as to straighten the road 
leading south. . . . Also to direct as to the location 
of a large flat stone in front of the meeting-house, used as 
a horse-block; also the extending or diminishing of the park 
fence. Also to take action on a petition to the selectmen 
to lay a road or highway beginning near B. W. Crissey's 
or George Rockwell's, running a southerly direction, to 
terminate near Philo Smith's." There is no record of any 
action having been taken at this town meeting for "remov- 
ing the ledge of rocks," and the ledge remains "at the 
northwest corner of the public green." Neither is there 
mention of laying the highway from "near B. W. Crissey's," 
now R. I. Crissey's, "or George Rockwell's," now G. W. 
Scoville's, " to terminate near Philo Smith's," now Obadiah 
Smith's, and that highway has never been opened. 

At the meeting February 7, 1853, it was "voted that the 
selectmen so alter the park or green fence that the east line 
of the same be shortened one length, making the south line 
nearly straight." This fence extended to the south line of 
the Academy or Town Hall building, where it remained 
until about 1876. At the same meeting it was "voted, that 
if the consent of the adjoining proprietors can be obtained,^ 
meaning the owners of the horse-sheds, "individuals shall 
have the right to build a fence around the south point of 
the green, leaving a lane of proper width between the north 
line of the same and the south line of the one now built, 
but not at the expense of the town." 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 291 

''Fencing the green" was strongly opposed at the time 
this first fence was built; one ground of opposition being 
that it took away from a number of individuals their best 
piece of cow-pasture, cows being at that time allowed to 
run in the streets, and this deprived them (the dwners of 
the cows) of one of their inherent rights. The other ground 
of opposition was urged principally by or in behalf of peo- 
ple living in the out parts of the town; that it made them 
so much more travel when they came to town to attend 
church or to transact business, to be obliged to drive 
around the green instead of across it, as they and their 
fathers had always been permitted and accustomed to do. 
So, fencing the north part of the green and leaving the 
south part open was a compromise, not depriving individu- 
als of all their pasturage, and compelling the owners of the 
long row of horse-sheds which then stood by the Academy 
to drive only as far south as the entrance to their property. 
It was not long, how^ever, before all feeling of opposition to 
the park died out, and nearly all who at first opposed it 
came to feel an interest in it, and appreciated the improve- 
ment. At a town meeting May, 1854, it was "voted that 
the grass in the public green be sold at auction to the 
highest bidder, and that the selectmen cause the holes on 
the green to be filled up." 

In 1855 quite an effort was made to restrain cattle from 
running at large in the public highways, but the effort 
failed until years later. As mentioned above, the first vote 
of the town authorizing the fencing of the green was in 
April, 1849. The fence was erected in the autumn of that 
year, and some trees were set in the spring of 1850. Mr. 
William B. Rice, then Principal of the Academy, was the 
prime mover in the fencing of the green and the planting of 
the trees, and to him and his helpers the town, and all the 
inhabitants thereof, owe a lasting debt of gratitude for this 
work. Mr. Rice was ably seconded and helped in this enter- 
prise by Dr. Eldridge, Mr. Robbins Battell, Mr. E. Grove 
Lawrence, Mr. N. B. Stevens, Mr. Myron H. Mills and sev- 
eral others. Mr. Rice did more than anv one else in the 



292 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

planting of the trees. The plan adopted was to plant one 
or more of every kind of native trees. Elms, sugar maples 
and evergreens of different kinds predominated. Mr. Myron 
H. Mills, then carrying on the store on the green, set the 
white beech a little south of the store, which is now one of 
the beautiful specimens. Mr. Sherman H. Cowles set sev- 
eral of the fine hard maples. In one of Mr. Rice's visits to 
the town, many years since, he said to the writer he wished 
Norfolk people to remember that he set a large number of 
the trees in the park, but especially that he set the fine 
tulip tree which stands in the center of the park in front 
of the Academy. This and another tulip-tree, now dead, 
Mr. Rice brought on his shoulder from West Norfolk. There 
is a fine specimen of a "hop-horn beam" on the west side 
of the park; two large white ash, two bass-wood, and many 
fine specimens of spruce, hemlock, elms and maples of the 
original trees. There are no finer trees anywhere than 
two shag-bark walnuts, that were set in the early '60's by 
Alonzo J. Maltbie and one of the Crisseys. They also set 
the two fine butternuts, and the last named set a tamarack 
nearly in front of the Academy, which tree he brought on 
his shoulder from Crissey hill, and it is now a large, fine 
tree. There are two good specimens of the chestnut oak, 
and two large, fine arbor vitae. Mr. Oliver B. Butler set 
a juniper tree, which lived many years, and died. Esq. 
Michael F. Mills set a yellow pine in front of the church, 
which is also gone. There was a silver-leaf poplar set out 
by Horace Humphrey, and a nice clump of sumac set by 
Mr. Rice, now gone, as also are all the varieties of birches, 
soft maples and buttonwood. In 1876 a great amount of 
work was done removing the rocks on the west side of the 
road, south of the church, and in other places, filling up 
with earth, grading and making a nice lawn, etc. That 
same year Mrs. Eldridge and Miss Anna Battell set the 
west side of the road, north and south of the church, and 
the south end of the green, to elms, which are now fine, 
large trees. If "he who makes two spires of grass to grow 
where one only grew before is a public benefactor," how 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 293 

much more are they, who set and cause to grow in public 
places a beautiful elm or other tree where only grass grew 
before! Recently Mr. and Mrs. Carl Stoeckel have filled 
the space which used to be so bare, north of the church, 
with beautiful trees and shrubs. 

The glory and beauty of Norfolk in these modern days is 
this charming little park, with its noble trees, its beds of 
exquisite flowers and shrubs, from the gardens and con- 
servatories of the Misses Eldridge and Mrs. Carl Stoeckel. 
From the opening of spring until the frosts of autumn 
these flower-beds are filled, being from time to time 
changed and replenished with the choicest plants and most 
beautiful flowers by these ladies, to whom the whole com- 
munity owes a debt of gratitude for these and numerous 
other privileges and favors. The writer cannot refrain 
from at least a word of mention and recognition of the 
fact that Norfolk Centre is made one extensive park by the 
beautiful lawns and floral displays upon the private 
grounds of the Misses Eldridge, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Stoeckel, 
Miss Isabella Eldridge, at the Library, Mrs. Bridgman, at 
the Gymnasium, and Mr. Frederick M. Shepard, the foun- 
tain and lawn at the Railroad Station. 

To the forethought of the first settlers in making the 
reservation, to Mr. William B. Rice and others who fenced 
the green and planted the trees, and to Rev. Dr. Eldridge, 
who vigorously and successfully opposed the Railroad 
Company in its desire to appropriate and destroy the work 
of generations, let unceasing gratitude be returned for our 
beautiful little park. 



294 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 



XXI. 



THE PERIOD PRECEDING THE "WAR OF THE REBELLION — NORFOLK 
MEN IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION — SKETCH OF ADJUTANT 
SAMUEL C. BARNUM — SKETCH OF COLONEL GEORGE RYAN. 

The apparent belief of a large majority of the people 
throughout the North concerning the question of human 
slavery as practised in a large section of our country 
during the first half of this nineteenth century, was that 
it was a divine institution, sanctioned by the teachings of 
the Bible. That idea seemed to have pervaded pulpit and 
pew to a considerable extent throughout the North, and 
south of "Mason's and Dixon's Line" "the Institution" was 
looked upon by the majority apparently, as the corner stone 
and pillar of society. 

For more than a quarter of a century before the breaking 
out of the Rebellion in 1861 there had been in many, per- 
haps nearly every town and community in the northern 
and western portions of our country, a few men of thought 
who had studied deeply upon the question of human slavery, 
and had been convinced that it was a sin and a wrong. 
Their convictions were like the "leaven hid in three meas- 
ures of meal," working quietly yet powerfully, perhaps un- 
consciously, upon those with whom they came in contact. 

Norfolk, too, at that period had its thoughtful men ; men 
of "advanced thought," who were in advance of the age in 
which they lived by at least a score of years. Some, only a 
part of them, lived to see the marvellous change which was 
wrought in the minds of men on that "vexed question of 
human slavery," as it was called, during the two decades 
from 1840 to 1860, — and in no part of the North was the 
change of thought and feeling among the masses greater 
than in New England. The West was then, as it has been 
since, in advance of the East on many questions, having 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 295 

been settled by the progressive men and women from the 
older states. 

The first man in Norfolk who publicly showed that he 
had indeed the courage of his convictions, and dared all 
alone to vote as he prayed and believed on this slavery 
question, was Thomas Trumbull Cowles. At the Presiden- 
tial election in November, 1840, having with his pen pre- 
pared the proper ballot, Mr. Cowies went to the voting 
place, which was at the front of the pulpit in the meeting- 
house, and cast his vote for James G. Birney, the nominee 
of the Abolitionists, for President of the United States, 
this being the first "abolition vote," as it was called, cast 
in this town. As he walked up to the ballot-box in front 
of the pulpit and proceeded openly to deposit his vote, Mr. 
Cowles was applauded somewhat vigorously by some of 
his fellow townsmen and friends, and this independent act 
caused some interest and discussion. One "did not believe 
there was a man in town who had the courage to vote in 
that way, although he did believe it was right. It was just 
throwing away his vote, of course, and what good could it 
do? Better stick by the grand old Whig party until every- 
body is ready to vote that way, and then it will do some 
good," etc. But this one vote 'thrown away,' and the 
thought and discussion which it caused, did accomplish 
something, leading a number of other men in the town to 
vote as they believed to be right, so that at the next elec- 
tion, on the first Monday in April, 1841, twenty-one 'aboli- 
tion votes,' as they were called, were cast in this town. 

The "agitation" went on. Those men of thought who 
then believed fully what it took others a quarter of a cen- 
tury more to learn, were reviled, called fanatics, would 
have been called "cranks" in this last part of the century, 
because they "made the world to move." 

In the Presidential election of 1844 it is said that nine 
votes were cast for James G. Birney, the candidate of the 
Abolitionists. 

The "Connecticut State Anti-Slavery Society" had been 
formed a little previous to the date last mentioned, and not 



296 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

long after this time the "Norfolk Auxiliary" was formed. 
The original document containing the Preamble, Con- 
stitution and names of the formers of this auxiliary society 
has been carefully preserved in the home of Mr. Thomas T. 
Gowles and his sons, and being an important page of the 
history of that time as it is, is herewith given in full: 

"Preamble." 

"We, the undersigned, believing that God hath made of one 
blood all nations of men to dwell upon the face of the whole earth, 
and hath bestowed upon all men certain inalienable rights, among 
which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; and that the 
holding of men in involuntary servitude, or regarding him as prop- 
erty is a sin. and an impious assumption of power, which is opposed 
to the elementary principles of Eternal justice;— and to compel him 
to labour without an equivalent, or to withold from bim the means 
of social, intellectual and moral improvement, is a gross violation of 
his natural rights. And believing that the right to hold one man in 
personal bondage, claimed on the mere circumstance of birth, pur- 
chase or colour, would imply so to hold all men, is therefore 
subversive of the elementary bonds of society. 

And whereas, a system of slavery does exist within our pro- 
fessedly free and Christian land, and a large portion of our brethren, 
—native born Americans, are subjected to the most cruel bondage; 

And whereas, we do firmly believe, that it is not only the imper- 
ative duty of the masters to give immediate freedom to their slaves, 
but that it is also safe, and will be conducive to the highest mter- 
osts of a)oth; 

And finally, feeling that we are bound by the highest and most 
solemn obligations to the oppressed, to our country and to our God, 
to do all in our power, lawfully, and in the spirit of love and meek- 
ness for the redemption of our brethren from bondage, and for the 
removal of the foul stain from our national escutcheon; -we do here- 
by form ourselves into a society for the promotion of the above 
named objects, and agree to be governed by the following constitu- 
tion:"— 

"Constitution. 

"Art. 1st. This society shall be called the "Norfolk Anti-Slavery 
Society," and shall be auxiliary to the Connecticut State Anti- 
Slavery Society. 

Art. 2d. The object of this society shall be the entire abolition 
of slavery within our country,— aiming to convince all of our fellow 
citizens by arguments addressed to their understandings and their 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 297 

consciences, that slave-iholding is a crime,— a sin in itself,— and that 
duty, safety, and the best interests of all concerned require its im- 
mediate abandonment. 

Art. 3d- This society shall aim to elevate the character of the 
people of colour, by removing public prejudice, by encouraging their 
moral, intellectual and religious improvement; that they may, ac- 
cording to their intellectual and moral vrorth, share an equality 
with the whites in civil and religious privileges. 

Art. 4th. This society will in no way countenance the slaves in 
vindicating their rights by physical force. 

Art. 5th. Any person who assents to the principles of this con- 
stitution and is not a slaveholder, may become a member of this 
society by signing these articles. 

Art. 6th. The officers of this society shall be a President, two 
Vice Presidents, a corresponding and recording Secretary; and these 
officers shall constitute a board of managers; and the duty of these 
officers shall be the same as are ordinarily performed by such 
officers in similar societies. 

Art. 7th. The regular meetings of this society shall be held on 
the first Wednesday of January, April, July and October. 

Art. 8th. This constitution and preamble may be amended at 
any regular meeting of the society by a vote of two-thirds of the 
members present." 

"The few, the immortal names that were not born to die," sub- 
scribers to this document, are as follows:— 

Levi Barlow. Abel Camp. 

Benjamin Welch. John Cone. 

George Browm Thomas T. Cowles. 

Merrell Humphrey. Lawrence Mills. 
James Humphrey. 

Other abolitionists of those early days were Dea. Amos 
Pettibone, Dea. Darius Phelps, James Parritt, Sherman H. 
Cowles, John Humphrey, Zalmon Parritt, Jared Potter, 
William C. Phelps, Asa Dutton, William Butler, Hiram 
Mills, James C. Swift. 

This society was formed in 1844, and doubtless all the 
above names were upon the roll of the Norfolk Abolition 
Society, though not found upon the original document 
given above. 

One now living who was in the 'inner circle' at times 
says: "Like most pioneers in a good cause, these Aboli- 
tionists endured much ridicule and obloquy in those early 



298 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

days. I well remember the first Abolition meeting, with 
speakers from abroad. One of the speakers was Abbie 
Kelley. The meeting was held by the great courtesy of 
the society's committee in the meeting-house. It was as 
much as an individual's 'social' reputation was worth to 
attend it. 

Mr. John Humphrey was invariably the candidate for 
Representative to the Legislature, and always received his 
full party vote of nine. In 1853 John Humphrey and Wil- 
liam J. Norton, a Democrat, were elected Representatives." 

THE SUBJECT OF SLAVERY, IN THE CHURCH A VIEW PRIOR TO 1850. 

(Fbom the Chubch Recobds). 

"Dec. 18, 1846. Church met, being called together in 
compliance with a request addressed to the pastor, and 
signed by a number of members, who desired that an op- 
portunity might be had to express views and consult upon 
the subject of slavery. 

After a very free expression of views and feelings, which 
was done in a very pleasant manner, it was proposed and 
voted that the meeting be adjourned four weeks, this being 
the wish of those at whose request the meeting was called. 

"January 15, 1847. Church met according to adjourn- 
ment. Mr. Thomas T. Cowles moved a very strong resolu- 
tion on the subject of slavery. After a protracted discus- 
sion it was rejected. 

Deacon Pettibone then moved the following: "While in 
the exercise of Christian charity we would refrain from 
passing sweeping resolutions excluding all slave-holders 
indiscriminately from our communion; yet 

Resolved, That those persons who enslave or traffic in 
human beings for mere purposes of gain; who are indif- 
ferent as to the condition into which 'they sell them; who 
violate the domestic relations by separating husbands and 
wives, parents and children, or who deny to them the 
Bible, the means of intellectual and religious instruction 
and improvement, or who allow them in concubinage; all 



^4 



.1'!^ -»^ ^ 




HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 299 

persons doing these things do by such conduct forfeit all 
claims to Christian character, and cannot be recognized by 
us as worthy a standing in the Christian church." 

After some discussion this resolution was adopted. 

What was called the ^'Underground Railroad" ran 
through Norfolk for many years, and among several 'sta- 
tions' in the town the house of Dea, Amos Pettibone was 
one. One of the natives says: ''Dea. Pettibone used to 
take the passengers on to the next 'station' in New Marl- 
boro. I remember his stopping one morning at my home 
to have us children see a young runaway slave whom he 
bad kept over night, and was then on his way to the next 
'station.' He showed the scars on his ankles where he had 
worn irons." 

The doings at a business meeting of the Cong. Church of 
Norfolk, Ct., November 15, 1850, are as follows: 

(Fbom the Chtibch Recoeds). 

"At an adjourned church meeting, Brother Thomas T. 
Cowles introduced the following resolution: — 

"Resolved, by this church that we consider slave-holding as it 
exists in these United States, prima facie evidence of sin, and such 
a violation of the law of God, the precepts and spirit of Christianity, 
as to merit at our hands just and severe rebulie; — and that any per- 
son -Who is guilty of this sin, is not and cannot be recognized by us 
as being in good and regular standing in any Christian Church." 

"After consideralile discussion the question was talien on mo- 
tion of Deacon Pettibone by yeas and nays, with the following 
result: 

Yes: Darius Phelps, Sherman H. Cowles, Thomas T. Cowles, 
John Humphrey, Jared Potter, Amos Pettibone (6). 

No, 25 votes. 

After the defeat of the resolution introduced by Mr. 
Cowles by the strong vote of 25 to 6, the record goes on to 
say: — "Then John K. Shepard moved a resolution in the 
words of one recently adopted by our Consociation, in the 
words following: — 

"Resolved— To institute steps of discipline in every case where 
our members are or become slaveholders." 

This resolution was adopted unanimously." 



300 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

So far as the writer is able to learn, the last slave bought, 
sold or owned by a member of this church or a resident of 
this town was James Mars, who says in the sketch of his 
life: "The bargain was made on the 12th of September, 
1798. Then I was informed that I was sold to Mr. Munger, 
and must go and live with him." In view of this fact it 
would appear that the resolution adopted unanimously by 
the church November 15, 1850, fifty-two years, two months 
and three days after the last purchase or sale of a slave in 
the town, was a very safe, conservative resolution to adopt. 

But, — "the world do move." We will here pass over a 
period of ten years and three months, which brings us 
within eight days of the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln 
as President of the United States. 

During the decade from 1850 to 1860 a marvellous change 
was wrought in the minds of people throughout the North. 
There had been no occasion to "institute steps of discipline 
w^here our members are or become slaveholders" in Nor- 
folk, but the six who in 1850 voted for Mr. Cowles' 
resolution, which declared "that slavery was a sin, a viola- 
tion of the law of Grod and of the precepts of Christianity," 
no longer stood alone and despised, but a large majority in 
this town, as elsewhere, now believed that what these men 
believed or declared ten or twenty years before was wholly 
true. 

On Sunday, February 17, 1861, Dr. Eldridge gave notice 
from the pulpit that upon the next Sabbath he proposed 
to consider the question, "Does the Bible sanction 
slavery?" and remarked that he gave this notice so that any 
who might not wish to hear what he should have to say 
could, if they so desired, stay away. Very few, if any, of 
his congregation were absent on the following Sunday. 
A brief synopsis of this discourse follows. At the request 
of a large number of his people the discourse was published, 
and many copies are still to be found. He took as his text 
in the morning Isaiah 61:1, and said: 

"We have, thus announced, the aim of the mission of Christ on 
earth. It was to proclaim and secure deliverance from sin, from 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 301 

ignorance, from social servitude, and from civil despotism; in sliort 
from every species of bondage and oppression. Sucti was its aim, 
and sucli tias been its effect, to the full extent of its legitimate in- 
fluence. 

This text I deem a suitable introduction to ttie task I have un- 
dertaljen to perform this day. Tbat taslj is, to examine the question, 
Does the Bible sanction slavery; southern slavery? Before pro- 
ceeding to execute the task, T wish to say a preliminary word or 
two as to the manner in which I mean, God helping me, to discharge 
this undertaking. I intend to dodge no difficulty; to pervert or 
strain no passage of scripture from what, after the best lights I 
h.ave, I regard to be its real import. If I know my own heart in 
this matter, my sincere desire is, not to handle the word of God 
deceitfully in order to make out a case, but to present its real teach- 
ings upon the point under consideration. To recur then to the ques- 
tion,— does the Bible sanction slavery; southern slavery? Does the 
Bible represent slavery as in itself a proper institution, a natural 
institution like that of marriage for example, one that is indeed 
liable to abuse and perversion in individual cases, but which as an 
institution, is on tlie whole wise, safe. Christian; not something to 
be got rid of as soon as it safely may be, but to be sustained, cher- 
ished, perpetuated, extended? Such is the question. 

In discussing it, it is evident that we have to do, not with in- 
dividual cases of slaveholding, that may be exceptional, some in- 
volving little evil, others flagrant instances of cruelty and oppres- 
sion. Our concern is with the system, as established, guarded, and 
protected by law, and in its general operation." 

He then quotes southern autliority as to what slavery then was, 
as sustained by law. 

The civil code of Louisiana said: "A slave is one who is in the 
power of the master, to whom he belongs. The master may sell 
him, dispose of his person, his industry and his labor. He can do 
nothing, nor possess anything, nor acquire anything, but what be- 
longs to his master." 

The laws of South Carolina declared: "Slaves shall be deemed, 
sold, taken, reputed and adjudged in law to be chattels personal in 
the hands of their owners and possessors, their executors and as- 
signs, to all intents and purposes whatever." 

In North Carolina,— "The slave is one doomed in his own person 
and posterity to live without knowledge, and without capacity to 
make anything his own, and to toil that another may reap the 
fruits- He bas no will of his own. The power of the master must 
be absolute,— the submission of the slave, perfect." 

Dr. Eldridge continued:— "Such, as defined by statute and ex- 
pounded by southern Jurists is slavery as a system. 



302 HISTORY OF NOEFOLK. 

In this system sanctioned by the Bible? 

There are those who maintain that it is, both in the Old Testa- 
ment and in the New. On the contrary I believe and shall attempt 
to show, that slavery is not sanctioned by either the Hebrew or the 
Cliristian Scriptures; that it is opposed to the letter and spirit of 
■both, and that above all, it is in diametrical 'hostility to the whole 
scope of Christianity. My plan will be, first:— To examine the pas- 
sages in the Old Testament and in the New Testament that are re- 
lied on to support slavery, and to show that they do not support it. 

Second. I shall attempt to prove that the general spirit of Chris- 
tianity, as well as its specified precepts, is diametrically hostile to 
slavery. 

Third. That it is a strong argument in favor of the construction 
that I put upon the Bible, that it brings its teachings into harmony 
with the intuitive convictions and spontaneous sentiments of man- 
kind." 

Dr. Eldridge then proceeded to examine carefully each passage 
in the Old Testament that was supposed to lend any countenance 
to modern slavery, and it would be of deep interest to follow him 
carefully, as he did effectually dispose of every one. 

At the afternoon service on the same day he took up the second 
part of his argument, and examined the passages in the New Testa- 
ment that the advocates of slavery relied upon. 

He took as his text Luke 4, 16-21, and said: 

"My text this afternoon is the same in reality with that of the 
morning. Here we have it quoted from the prophet by our Lord 
Jesus Christ, and endorsed by his sanction, as a true prophetic rep- 
resentation of the real spirit and aim of his mission on earth, and 
which was then beginning to receive its fulfillment. That mission 
was to proclaim the year of Jubilee, the acceptable year of the 
Lord; a Jubilee of liberty to all the inhabitants of the world, re- 
demption from the bondage of sin, of oppression and tyranny. We 
have seen how much sanction the Old Testament lends to chattel 
slavery. Let us now enquire whetlier it receives any support from 

the New Testament I am firmly persuaded that slavery 

receives no support from the New Testament. . . There are three 
classes of passage.s which embrace every syllable that the New 
Testament contains referring directly to the subject of slavery, or 
that can be imagined to afford it any sanction. 

1. The passages that are addressed to servants, or if you 
please, slaves. 

2. The passages that are addressed to masters. 

3. A part of a letter of Paul to Philemon in regard to Onesimus." 
Dr. Eldridge then took up carefully each one of the passages re- 
ferred to and showed most conclusively and clearly that slavery re- 
ceived no support from any one of them. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 303 

Referring to the passages addressed to masters he said:— "You 
who have not studied the subject and who have heard so much said, 
and vauntingly said, of the ample support that the New Testament 
jields to slavery, imagine probably that the class of texts now to 
be cited is a very large one, and that they set forth the claims of 
slavery with great explicitness and force. If any entertain such 
expectations they are doomed to great disappointment, for besides 
what Is said in the epistle to Philemon, there are in this class but 
two short verses, Ephesians 6—9, and Colossians 4—1. . , . 

Besides what is said in the epistle to Philemon, to which I will 
advert by and by, tliese two verses are the pillars that must sup- 
port the monstrous system of human slavery. By what species of 
chicanery anybody can extort out of these two verses justification 
for a system of bondage that holds millions of human beings as 
mere property to all intents and purposes whatsoever, I am utterly 
at a loss to conjecture." After analyzing thoroughly these passages 
and also Philemon 8— 21 he said again:— "Wbat a heart must that 
man have who imagines that he can by some species of logical 
chemistry extort chattel slavery into the right to hold and treat 
even Christian men as things, from a letter so full of tenderness 
and breathing such an earnest desire that Philemon would receive 
Onesimus no longer as a servant, but as a brother beloved." 

On the whole therefore I conclude, that nothing 

that is said in the New Testament, and nothing that is omitted, af- 
fords a shadow of support of modern slavery. We saw this morn- 
ing that that monstrous institution can derive no just sanction from 
the Old Testament; so that to the question, "Does the Bible sanc- 
tion slavery"? we are now prepared to reply, as I do with the deep- 
est conviction. No; it does not. But I do not stop with that negative 
declaration. I now in the second place declare affirmatively, that 
the gospel, in its essential spirit, as well as in many of its most im- 
portant precepts, is diametrically opposed to chattel slavery. What 
is the spirit of slavery? It is that spirit which lords it over others; 
disregards and crushes out their wishes and feelings; extorts from 
them labor by compulsion, and then appropriates to one's self the 
fruit of such toil, except so much as may be necessary to keep the 
living machine in good working order. Who can deny that such is 
the spirit and genius of slavery? Now the spirit of the gospel, aa 
evinced by Christ himself, and as set forth in the New Testament, is 
the direct opposite of this. . . . The very essence of the spirit of 
the gospel is a disposition to do as much good as possible to others 
in a spirit of self sacrifice. What fellowship hath sucli a spirit with 
that which would make mere tools of others for one's own gratifi- 
cation or emolument. John 13—13. The example that he gave, and 
which he would have them copy, was that of humble kindness to 



304 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

others, a readiness to do humble offices in love. What has such a 
temper to do with the lordly spirit that belongs to slavery as a 
system? 

While the essential spirit of the gospel is thus diametrically op- 
posed to that of slavery, many of the precepts of Christ virtually 
prohibit it. "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." "Therefore 
all things "whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye 
even so to them." 

Nobody is willing to be a slave. Nobody is willing to be re- 
garded and treated as a thing. Nobody is willing to be s'hut out 
from the light of knowledge by law; to toil his whole life at the 
bidding and for the sole advantage of others; to have no hope on 
earth for himself or his wretched offspring. And if nobody is will- 
ing to be a slave, then nobody ought to be willing to hold others in 
slavery. It is not doing as he would be done by; it is not loving 
his neighbor as himself. It is a clear violation of these precepts of 
the gospel." 

"My third point is, that it is a strong argument in favor of that 
construction of the Bihle, that finds it, not friendly to, but hostile 
to slavery, because that conclusion is in perfect accordance with 
the intuitive conviction and the spontaneous sentiments of mankind. 
The Bible teaches me to call no man master; that my fellow 
creatures are in the sight of God just as important as I am; that he 
is no respecter of persons; that my fellow man is under no more 
obligations to me than I am to him in the nature of things. 

The same things are intuitively true. Is it not intuitively cer- 
tain that I have, under God, a better rig'ht to myself and to the use 
of my own powers than anybody else has, and that if it do nobody 
any harm, I have a right to seek my own welfare in my own way? 
Can any logic beat that conviction out of me, or out of you? 

Suppose I have not quite so much bodily strength, or intellectual 
vigor as another, or tnat my skin is not so white, does this alter the 
case ? 

Such is the common feeling of men the world over, just in pro- 
portion as they are intelligent and have hearts in the right place. 
Many slaveholders, notwithstanding all the opiates to which their 
consciences are subjected, feel so. .John Randolph says in his last 
will and testament, "I give to my slaves their freedom, to which 
my conscience tells me they are justly entitled." And the state- 
ment of men's rights in the Declaration of Independence, is but the 
utterance of the inherent conviction and the spontaneous feeling of 
the conscience and heart of man. Even the most fanatical pro- 
slavery advocates unconsciously betraj'' something of the same 
feeling. 

Even Dr. Van Dyke is rather of the opinion that slavery will 



HISTORY OF NORFOIJi:. 305 

oease at the time of the M'illenium. One would suppose, from his 
zeal on the subject, that in his opinion heaven would not be perfect 
without "the institution." . . . And now I ask, who planted 
These sentiments of right and humanity in our consciences and 
hearts? Who wrote these laws in the human soul? Why, the same 
being who has given us the Bible. And is it to be supposed that in 
that book he has given laws that contradict the law that he has 

inscribed on the soul? Sooner let my tongue cleave 

to the roof of my mouth, than give utterance to what I should feel 
to be an impious libel on the Divine character. And, my hearers, 
whatever you may allow yourselves to do for the sake of politics, 
do not, I beseech yon, inspire your children with the domineering, 
the selfish spirit of slavery If what I have said in re- 
gard to the Bible be true, then slavery is doomed to expire. Not 
merely the intelligence and conscience of the civilized world are 
against it, but Christ the Redeemer is also against it. It may be 
bolstered up for a time, but its ultimate doom is sealed. No human 
foresight can now determine the when and the how of its demise; 
but that it will die, I regard as only a question of time. And who 
is not prepared with me to say, "O Lord, hasten the day!" 

No apology is needed, nor will any be made, for inserting 
at length this extract from Dr. Eldridge's discourse on a 
subject long since settled, but which was the burning vital 
one at the time of its delivery. His words from our stand- 
point today seem nothing less than prophetic. If for no 
other reason, his discourse in full, which can be found at 
the Norfolk Library and elsewhere, is richly worthy a care- 
ful perusal as a specimen of his clear, cogent reasoning, 
showing, as it does, the power, the breadth and the scope 
of his mind. 

"There were giants in those days." 

It is said that Deacon Amos Pettibone was the head and 
front of the 'Anti-Slavery,' or 'Abolition party,' in this 
town. The caucuses were usually held at his house, around 
his fireside, in the early days. Their full roll for consider- 
able time was nine. The sentiments and convictions of a 
few were so intense that they withdrew from the churches, 
and thought it wrong even to vote, so long as the Constitu- 
tion of the United States sanctioned slavery. Of these 
were Mr. Merrill Humphrey, Mr. Abel Camp and probably 
others. 



306 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

NORFOLK MEN IN THE WAK OF THE REBELLION. 

The following record of service is largely as published by 
order of the State Legislature in 1885. This state publica- 
tion is in many cases incorrect: 

President Lincoln's proclamation calling for men for three 
months was issued April 15, 1S61. The First Regiment, Connecticut 
Volunteers, arrived at Washington on the steamer "Bienville," via 
Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac, May 13th. 

"These were days of intense excitement in Washington, and 
false alarms were frequent, but cool heads were in control of the 
Connecticut Brigade." There were no Norfolk men in the First 
Connecticut Regiment. 

The Second Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers, enlisted for three 
months. Col. Alfred H. Terry, was mustered into the United States 
service at Brewster's Park, New Haven, May 7. 1861. It embarked 
from that port May 10th on the steamer "Cahawba" for Washing- 
ton, D. C, arriving there May 14th, camping at Meridian Hill. On 
the night of June IGth it crossed Long Bridge, entering upon the 
"sacred soil of Virginia." On the 17th it was ordered to the support 
of Col. McCook's Ohio regiment, which had that day been attacked 
at Vienna Station." . . . "The Second Connecticut took part in 
the battle of Bull Run, July 21st, acquitting itself with great credit, 
demonstrating b.v its coolness under Are the excellence of its 
material and the thoroughness of its discipline. At the ex- 
piration of its term of service the Second Regiment returned to 
New Haven, where on August 7th, 1861, its men were mustered out, 
most of them to make use of their experience, training and 
discipline in the three years' regiments of the State, wherein a large 
number became valuable officers." 

Norfolk was well represented in this regiment, Rifle Co. E or 
Infantry Co. F containing the first men to enlist from this town, 
viz., Samuel C. Barnum, Charles N. Decker, George J. Karmann, 
Samuel J. Mills, Calvin N. Sage and John M. Walker. 

In Co. A, or Rifle Co. B, the Norfolk men were Edward Adams, 
Stephen Barden, Philo Blake, William J. Downer, Charles A. 
Lewis and Timothy Ryan. 

In the Third Connecticut Regiment, which was in the same 
brigade as the First and Second regiments, in Rifle Co. A, was 
Willis H. Tyrrell of Norfolk, 

These Norfolk men were all mustered out at the close of their 
three months' term of service; nearly all of them, however, re- 
enlisted. Samuel J. Mills, a native of this town, son of Irad Mills, 
died not long after his return, his death occurring Sept. 5, 1861, from 



HISTORY OF NOEFOLK. 307 

disease contracted in the service, and was buried liere with military- 
honors, his being the first death of a Norfolk soldier, and the first 
military funeral here. 

In the First Squadron Conn. Vol. Cavalry, which was consoli- 
dated with the Second New Yorlj, known as the "Harris Light 
Cavalry," in Company A, were Sergeants Edward C. Morehouse 
and Russell A. Murphy from Norfolk, both mustered in Aug. 13, '61. 
Morehouse continued in the service until mustered out, September 
10, 1SG4, the expiration of his term. Murphy was taken prisoner 
June 9, '63, at Brandy Station, Va.; died at Andersonville, Ga., 1864. 

This I'egiment was among the very first volunteer cavalry regi- 
ments to prove that Union cavalry could match and overmatch the 
rough riders of the Confederacy." 

In Co. B was Corporal Damon S. Pendleton of Norfolk (son of 
Harry Pendleton), who was mustered in a private August 29, 1861. 
Promoted March 1, '63. Re-enlisted a veteran Dec. 21, '63. Wound- 
ed at Rapidan, Va., March 1, '64. Died March 25, '64. 

Also in Co. B, Charles A. Lewis; mustered in August 29, '61; 
discharged for disability Feb.,' 64. 

In the First Regiment Conn. Vol. Cavalry, Co. G, was William 
Stuart from Norfolk, mustered in May 14, '64; mustered out Aug. 
2, '65. 

In Co. I, from Norfolk, Alexander McDonald, a substitute, mus- 
tered in Aug. 6, '63; captured Oct. 17, '64; paroled March 1, '65; 
discharged, disability, June 12, '65. 

In Co. L, Charles Gordon, Norfolk; mustered in Nov. 16, '64; 
mustered out Aug. 2, '65. 

In the First Regiment Conn. Vol. Heavy Artillery was Jonathan 
H. P. Stevens, M. D., Assistant Surgeon; mustered in Oct. 14, '61; re- 
signed September 1, 1862. 

Dr. Stevens was a native of this town, a life long resident, and 
from the time of his graduation as a physician and surgeon until his 
death a much esteemed, trusted and successful practising physician. 
He was a man of sterling character, integrity and worth, whose 
death in middle life was deeply deplored by the entire community. 

In Co. E of this regiment from Norfolk were Corporal Lewis 
W. Curtiss; mustered in May 23, '61; promoted Sept. 24, '63; term 
expired May 22, '64. 

James L. Mason, wagoner; mustered in May 23, '61; term ex- 
pired May 22, '64. 

Loren R. Curtiss; mustered in May 23, '61; term expired May 
22, '64. 

In Co. F, Frederick Barber, substitute; mustered in Dec. 2, '64; 
mustered out Sept. 25, '65. 

In Co. G, Sergeant Edward E. Bettis. Mustered in a private 



308 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

May 22, '61. Re-enlisted a veteran Nov. 3, '63. Promoted Corporal 
May 24, '64. Promoted 2nd Lieutenant Co. L, Nov. 8, '64. Mustered 
out Sept. 25, '65. 

In Co. L, Thomas Smedley. Mustered in Feb. 7, '62, Re-enlisted 
a veteran Feb. 16, '64. Mustered out Sept. 25, '65. 

In the Second Regiment, Conn. Heavy Artillery, called the Litch- 
field County Regiment, a considerable number of Norfolk men en- 
listed and passed through long and severe service, participating in 
not less than thirteen engagements, in which several were killed, 
others wounded and disabled for a time or for life, and many others 
suffered and died from sickness. The Regiment was enlisted in 
August, 1862, at "Camp Button," in Litchfield. September 11th was 
formally mustered into the United States service and on the 1.5th 
of September proceeded by rail to Washington. 

The Norfolk men in this regiment were Sergeant Robert Craw- 
ford, Co. A. Mustered in a private Dec. 28, '63. Wounded at Cold 
Harbor, Va., June 1, '64. Promoted Corporal Jan. 1, '65; Sergeant 
July 10, '65. Mustered out Aug. 18, '65. 

In Co. B, Auguste Adams. Mustered in Sept. 11, '62. Wounded 
at Cold Harbor, Va., June 1, '64. Discharged July 7, '65. 

Godfrey Miller. Mustered in Dec. 9, '63. Wounded at Cold 
Harbor June 1, '64. Mustered out August 18, '65. 

In Co. C, Christian Bjornsen. Mustered in Dec. 15, '63. Wound- 
ed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 1, '64. Died June 18, '64. 

In Company E of this regiment the largest number of Norfolk 
men enlisted. 

The First Sergeant of this company was Hiram D. Gaylord (son 
of Captain Hiram Gaylord of this town). Mustered in Sept. 11, '62. 
Promoted Second Lieutenant Co. A July 8, '63. Died from typhoid 
fever Nov. 18, '63. (Buried here with military honors). Also in Co. 
E, Q. M. Sergeant Edwin R. Canfleld. Mustered in a private Sept. 
11, '62. Promoted Corporal May 15, '64; Q. M. Sergeant March 1, 
'65, Discharged July 7, '65. 

Corporal Charles M. Burr (son of Silas Burr). Mustered in pri- 
vate Sept. 11, '62. Wounded (lost a leg) at Cedar Creek, Va., Oct. 
19, '64. Promoted March 1, '65. Discharged, disability, May 23, '65. 

Corporal Sherman H. Cowles. Mustered in Sept. 11, '62. Dis- 
charged, disability. May 18, '63. 

Charles N. Decker (also in Co. E, 2nd C. V.) Mustered in Dec. 
16, '63. Promoted March 1, '65. Mustered out Aug. 18, '65. 

Corporal Isaac R. Knapp. Mustered in private Sept. 11, '62. 
Promoted Mch. 1, '65. Discharged July 7, '6-5. 

Corporal George H. Pendleton (son of Hobart Pendleton). Mus- 
tered in private Sept. 11, '62; promoted July 6. '64; wounded in 
breast at Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, '64. Died Oct. 11, '64. (Buried 
here with military honors). 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 309 

Sherman A. Apley. Mustered in Sept. 11, '62. Missing at battle 
at Cold Harbor, Ya., June 1, '64; probably killed; no further report. 

Jean Christina. Mustered in Sept. 11, '62; discharged July 
11, '65. 

Michael Donahue. Mustered in Jan. 5, '64. Taken prisoner at 
Cedar Creek Oct. 19, '64. Died at Salisbury, N. C, Dee. 14, '64. 

William Downer. Mustered in Dec. 23, '63; mustered out Aug. 
18, '6.5. 

Adam Feathers. Mustered in Sept. 11, '62; discharged July 
7. '65. 

Oliver C. Fitch. Mustered in Sept. 11, '62; discharged, disability, 
Nov. 20, '62. 

William Gager. Mustered in Sept. 11, '62; deserted June 2, '63. 

Richard C. Gingell. Mustered in Sept. 11, '62; wounded at Cold 
Harbor June 3, '64; discharged, disability, Sept. 9, '65. 

Jule Jackman. Mustei'ed in Sept. 11, '62; discharged July 7, '65. 

Matthew Jackman. Mustered in Sept. 11, '62; discharged Sept. 
10. '65. 

Bowden D. Knapp. Mustered in Dec. 23, '63; missing at battle 
Cold Harbor June 1, '64; probably killed; no further report. 

Blizur Maltbie. Mustered in Sept. 11, '62; wounded at Cold 
Harbor June 1, '64 (leg amputated); died July 2,; '64 (buried here 
with military honors). 

Joseph Robinson. Mustered in Dec. 22, '63; died Oct. 3, '64. 

William A. Turner. Mustered in Sept. 11, '62; transferred to Co. 
I, 19th Reg., V. R. C, Jan. 30, '65; discharged July 10, '65. 

In Co. F, George W. Scoville. Mustered in private Dec. 17, '63; 
promoted corporal July 11, '65; mustered out Aug 18, '65. 

George N. Andrus. Mustered in Sept. 11, '62; died June 23, '64. 

Ammi Bailey. Mustered in Dec. 24, '63; mustered out Aug. 
18, '65. 

James Hyde. Mustered in Dec. 29, '63; wounded Sailors' Creek, 
Va., April 6, '65; discharged July 14, '65. 

Benjamin A. Murphy. Mustered in Dec. 22, '63; mustered out 
Aug. 18, '65. 

William Scoville. Mustered in Dec. 17, '63; mustered out Aug. 
18, '65. 

In Company G. Sergeant Matthew P. Bell, Jr. Mustered in 
private Sept. 11, '62; promoted corporal Feb. 13, '64; sergeant Oct. 
15, '64; wounded at Cedar Creek, Va., Oct. 19, '64; discharged, dis- 
ability, June 2, '65. 

In Co. K. Charles A. Campbell. Mustered in Sept. 11, '62; 
discharged July 7, '65. 

In Co. E. Corporal Theodore Bobbins. Served from Sept. 11, 
'62, to June 1, '65. Robbins was a resident of Norfolk, but in the 
Record was put down as from Winchester. 



310 HIS1X)EY OF NOEFOLK. 

Edmund B. Sage, also in Co. E. Served from Sept. 11, "62, to 
July 7, '65. He was a Norfolk boy and man, well known to the com- 
piler hereof, and is on the Record as from Winchester. 

Co. F. Edward P. Smith. Entered service Aug. 11, 'G2; pro- 
moted sergeant June, 'G3; discharged July 7, '65. 

FIFTH CONNECTICUT REGIMENT, INFANTRY. 

In Co. A. Enos A. Sage. Mustered in as private July 22, '61; 
promoted corporal Aug. 21, '61. Re-enlisted veteran Dec. 21, '63; 
promoted 1st sergeant July 22, '64; first lieutenant Co. B Apr. 29, 
'65; mustered out July 19, '65. 

Daniel A. Keyes. Mustered in as private July 22, '61; wounded 
at Cedar Mountain, Va., Aug. 9, '62; promoted corporal Sept. 23, '62; 
transferred as private to Co. E, 20th C. V., Jan. 11, '64. Re-trans- 
ferred as corporal Mch. 26, '64; term expired July 22, '64. 

William W. Downer. Mustered in July 22, '61; re-enlisted veteran 
Dec. 21, '63; mustered out July 19, '65. 

Charles E. Keyes. Mustered in July 22, '61; died Dec. 22, '62. 

In Co. I. George Martin. Mustered in July 22, '61; promoted 
corporal Nov. 10, '63; re-enlisted veteran Dec. 21, '63; wounded at 
Culp's Farm, Ga., June 22, '62; transferred to 41st Co., 2nd Batt., 
V. R. C, Apr. 22, '65; discharged Aug. 31, '66. 

John D. Barden. Mustered in July 22, '61; wounded at Cedar 
Mountain, Va., Aug. 9, '62; captured at Chancellorsville, Va., May 
8, '63; paroled May 14, '63; re-enlisted veteran Dec. 21, '63; mustered 
out July 19, '65. 

In Co. I. George M. Lewis. Mustered in July 22, '61; trans- 
ferred to Co. P, 20th C. v., Jan. 11, '64; discharged July 22, '64. 

John McDonald. Mustered in July 22, '61; discharged .luly 
21, '64. 

Philip Perkins. Mustered in July 22, '61; re-enlisted veteran 
Dec. 21, '63; mustered out July 19, '65. 

SIXTH REGIMENT, INFANTRY. 

In Co. E. Nathan W. Barden. Mustered in Sept. 4, '61; re- 
enlisted veteran Dec. 24, '63; mustered out Aug. 21, '65. 

James Newbold. Mustered in Oct 3, '63; discharged Oct. 16, '6.5. 

George W. Cobb. Mustered in Sept. 4, '61; died Oct. 23, '62. 

Edwin M. Downer. Mustered in Sept. 4, '61; discharged Sept. 
11, '64. 

William J. Downer. Mustered in Sept. 4, '61; discharged, dis- 
ability, March 9, '62. 

John W Peck. Mustered in Sept. 4, '61; died Feb. 9, '62. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 311 

SEVENTH REGIMENT, INFANTRY. 

Ill Co. E. Henry J. Andrus. Mustered in Sept. 7, 61; re-enlisted 
veteran Dee. 22, '63; promoted corporal June 22, "64; mustered out 
July 20, '65. 

Darwin C. Andrus. Mustered in Sept. 7, '61; mustered out 
Sept. 12, '64. 

Horace Russell. Mustered in Sept. 7, '61; mustered out Sept. 
12, '64. 

Francis Steck. Mustered in Sept. 7, '61; re-enlisted veteran 
Dec. 22, '63; captured at Bermuda Hundred, Va., June 17, '64; trans- 
ferred from Savannah, Ga., to Florence, S. C, Nov. 20, '64. No fur- 
ther report. Francis Steck's name is on the soldiers' monument as 
having died in 1865. 

Edward B. Gage. Mustered in Sept. 7, '61; killed at Drewiy's 
Bluff, Va., May 14, '64. 

In Co. I. Philo Bailey. Mustered in Sept. 13, '61; wounded at 
Ft. Wagner, S. C, July 11, '63; re-enlisted veteran Apr. 29, '64: 
transferred to Invalid Corps. 

NINTH REGIMENT, INFANTRY. 

In Co. B. Patrick Day. Mustered in Oct. 12, '61; discharged, 
disability, Oct. 16, '62. 

In Co. F. William Allen. Mustered in May 7, '64; deserted Aug. 
3, '64. 

Samuel Bryan. Mustered in May 7, '64; "absent without leave 
since Aug., 64." 

In Co. I. William Mason. Mustered in Oct. 1, '61; re-enlisted 
veteran Jan. 4, '64; transferred to Co. D, 9th Battalion C. Y., Oct. 
12, '64; mustered out Aug. 3, '65. 

TENTH REGIMENT, INFANTRY. 

In Co. I. John Hennessey. Mustered in Nov. 16, '64; discharged 
Nov. 13, '65. 

In Co. K. Thomas Kerrigan. Mustered in Nov. 17, '64; wound- 
ed at Ft. Gregg, Ya., Apr. 2, '65; discharged, disability, July 22, '65. 

ELEVENTH REGIMENT, INFANTRY. 

Adjutant Samuel C. Barnum. Entered service in this regiment 
Nov. 27, '61, as First Lieutenant Co. E; promoted to Adjutant Oct. 

24, '62; wounded at Cold Harbor June 3, '64; leg amputated; died. 
June 1.5, '64; buried in Norfolk with military honors. 

Quarter Master Sergeant Egbert J. Butler. Mustered in Oct, 

25, '61; promoted from Sergeant Co. E April 3, '62; 2nd Lieut. Co. B 
July 18, '62; resigned Jan. 5, '63. 



312 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

In Co. C. Gabriel La Bouss. Mustered in May 16, '64; wounded 
at Petersburg, Va., June 28, '64; died July 4, '64. 

Arthur Linshott. Mustered in May 19, '64; killed at Petersburg, 
Va., Aug. 21, '64. 

Jean Paul Mustered in May 18, '64; killed at Petersburg, Va., 
July 30, '64. 

In Co. E. Captain John H. Dewell. Mustered in Nov. 27, '61; 
resigned June 16, '62. 

John B. Miller. Mustered in Nov. 14, '61; re-enlisted veteran 
Dec. 13, '63; promoted Corporal Apr. 11, '64; vs'ouuded at Cold Har- 
bor, Va., June 3, '64; promoted Sergeant Co. K Sept. 19, '64; Second 
Lieut. Jan. 16, '6-5; mustered out Dec. 21, '65. 

Charles S. Spaulding. Mustered in Oct. 25, '61; promoted Ser- 
geant April 3, '62; First Sergeant Jan. 22, '63; re-enlisted veteran 
Dec. 13, '63; wounded and captured at Drerwry's Bluff, Va., May 16, 
'64; paroled Nov. 19, '64; discharged June 8, '65. 

(In Co. E.) Michael Gallagher. Mustered in Nov. 14, '61; pro- 
moted Corporal May 3, '63; re-enlistied veteran Dec. 13, '63; wounded 
and captured at Drewry's Bluff, Va., May 16, '64; paroled Nov. 19, 
•64; promoted Sergeant Dec. 1, '65; mustei'ed out Dec. 21, '65. 

William Humphrey. Mustered in Corporal Oct. 25, '61; pro- 
moted Sergeant March 1, '64; term expired Oct. 24, '64. 

George W. Spellman. Mustered in Oct. 25, '61; wounded at 
Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, '62; re-enlisted veteran Jan. 5. '64; promoted 
Corporal March 18, '64; Sergeant Dec 1, '64; mustered out Dec. 
21, '65. 

Willis H. Tyrrell. Mustered in Oct. 25, '61; promoted Corporal 
Jan. 2, '62; wounded Antietam Sept. 17, '62; promoted Sergeant 
Feb. 9, '68; died Aug. 25, '63. 

Orlo H. Wolcott. Mustered in Corporal Oct. 25, '61; promoted 
Sergeant June 16, '62; transferred to 118th Co., 2d Batt., V. R. C, 
Dec. 18, '63; discharged Oct 24, '64. 

Seth Barden. Mustered in Oct. 25, '61; promoted Corporal Mch. 
20, '62; discharged, disability, Sept. 18, '62. 

Stephen Barden. Mustered in Oct. 25, '61; re-enlisted veteran 
Dec. 13, '63; promoted Corporal Feb. 20, '65; discharged Dec. 1, '65. 

Theodore S. Bates, Corporal. Mustered in Oct. 25, '61; killed at 
Antietam, Md., Sept. 7, '62. 

Philo Blake. Mustered in Nov. 14, '61; mustered Co. M, 3rd 
Reg., U. S. Artillery, Oct. 25, '62; re-enlisted veteran April 23. '64: 
discharged April 23, '67. 

Irwin Clemens. Mustered in Feb. 6, '64; promoted Corporal 
Dec. 1, '65; mustered out Dec. 21, '65. 

George Daniels. Mustered in Oct. 25, '61; re-enlisted veteran 
Dee. 13, '63; promoted Corporal Feb. 20, '65; no record of discharge. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 313 

Nezair Demars. Mustered in Nov. 20, '61; promoted Corporal 
Dec. 23, '62; re-enlisted veteran Feb. 16, '61; mustered out Dec. 
21. '65. 

Elliott Peck. Mustered in Dec. 2, '63; promoted Jan. 11, 'Go; 
mustered out Dec. 21, '65. 

James J. Slater. Mustered in Oct. 25, '61; re-enlisted veteran 
Dec. 13, '63; promoted Corporal April 11, '64; transferred to U. S. 
N. April 30, '64; served on U. S. S. "Florida," "Queen," and "Dic- 
tator"; discharged Sept. 3, '65, 

Francis J. Burgess. Mustered in wagoner Oct. 25, '61; re-en- 
listed veteran Dec. 13, '63; mustered out Dec. 21, '65. 

Albert H. Bailey. Mustered in Nov. 23, '61; died April 7, "62. 

Benjamin J. Beach. Mustered in Oct. 25, '61; killed at Antietam, 
Md., Sept. 17, '62. 

Hiram Camp. Mustered in Oct. 25, '61; discharged, disability, 
July 18, '62. 

Leander Campbell. Mustered in Oct. 25, '61; killed at Cold 
Harbor, Va., June 3, '64. 

Edward Carman. Mustered in Nov. 20, '61; transferred to Co. 
M, 3rd Reg., U. S. Artillery; discharged Nov. 14, '64. 

Devantry Celestian. Mustered in Nov. 27, '61; re-enlisted vet- 
eran Dec. 13, '63; mustered out Dec. 21, '65. 

Xavier Chalton. Mustered in Oct. 25, '61; transferred to Co. E. 
2d Reg., U. S. Cavalry; re-enlisted veteran Feb. 25, '64; discharged 
May 19, '65. 

James Clark. Mustered in Nov. 20, '61; discharged, disability, 
Feb. 6, '63. 

Hiram Clemens. Mustered in Dec. 2, '63; wounded at Peters- 
burg, Ya., June 22, '64; mustered out Dec. 21, '65; served also 
in 9th Reg., Co. I, Oct. 6 to Jan., '63. 

Peter Demars. Mustered in Oct. 25, '61; discharged, disability, 
June 28. '62. 

Willard Evans. Mustered in Oct. 25, '61; died Jan. 12, '62. 

Joachin Filieau. Mustered in Oct. 25, '61; discharged, disability, 
Oct. 1, '62. 

Michael Flaherty. Mustered in Oct. 25, '61; discharged Oct. 
27, '64. 

Moses J. Hall. Mustered in Oct. 25, '61; wounded at Antietam 
Sept. 17, '62; re-enlisted veteran Dec. 13, '63; wounded June 3, '64, 
at Cold Harbor, Va.; deserted Oct. 25, '64. 

Edward J. Humphrey. Mustered in Oct. 25, '61; died April 
22, '62. 

Isaac M. Knapp. Mustered in Nov. 27, '61; transferred to Co. 
I; discharged Feb. 28, '63. 

John Laber. Mustered in Nov. 14. '61; re-enlisted veteran; 
wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 15, '64; discharged Sept. 16, '65. 



314 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Theodore Parrett. Mustered in Nov. 27, '61; killed at Antietam,. 
Md., Sept. 17, '62. 

Cliarles Spellman. Mustered in Oct. 25, '61; died May 22, '62. 

John Sughrue. Mustered in Nov. 23, '61; died April 20, '62. 

Lucius Watrous. Mustered in Oct. 25, '61; discharged, disability,. 
March 3, '62. 

Charles Root. Mustered in Oct. 25, '61; re-enlisted veteran Apr. 

23, '64; deserted July 23, '65. 

John O'Brien. Mustered in Nov. 23, '61; discharged April 29, '64.. 

Halsey Roberts. Mustered in Oct. 25, '61; died Feb. 6, '62, at 
Annapolis, Md. 

In Fourteenth Regiment Infantry, Co. I, veas James Hearty. 
Mustered in Aug 23, '62; wounded Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 r 
'transferred to 3d Co., 2d Batt., V. R, C; discharged June 12. '65. 

NINE MONTHS' SERVICE — TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT, INFANTRY. 

Company F. George Barden. Mustered in Nov. 15, '62; wound- 
ed June 14, '63, Port Hudson, La.; died June 15, '63. 

Martin Green. Mustered in Nov. 15, '62; mustered out Aug. 
28, '63. 

Schuyler B. Pendleton, Co. F. Mustered in Nov. 15, '62; died 
Sept. 3, '63. J 

Charles N. Hollister, Co. F. Enlisted Sept. 9, '62; discharged 
Aug. 28, '63. 

TWENTY-NINTH (COLORED) REGIMENT, INFANTRY. 

In Co A. Alanson Freeman. Mustered in Mch. 8, '64; mus- 
tered out Oct. 24, '65. 

Henry Freeman. Mustered in Mch. 8, '64; mustered out Oct. 

24, '65. 

In Co. G. Ensign Prince. Mustered in Mch. 8, '64; died April 
17, '65. 

In Co. K. Samuel Smith Musician. Mustered in Mch. 8, '64; 
mustered out Oct. 24, '65. 

In Co. C, 29th Reg., Corporal Joseph Prime. Enlisted Dec. 23, 
'63; discharged Oct. 24, '65. 

In Co. F, 29th Reg., James Prime. Enlisted Dec. 23, '63; dis- 
charged Oct 24, '65. 

Chauncey Crossley and Edward Hine, of this town, colored 
men, served in the 49th Massachusetts Regiment nearly two years. 

Eugene Murphy. Mustered into Co. B, 37th Mass. Infantry, 
Aug. 30, '62; killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, '64. 

Joseph P. Nettleton. Mustered into Co. G, 59th Mass. Infantry, 
Feb. 22, '64; transferred to 57th Mass. Infantry June 1, '65; dis- 
charged July 31, '65. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 315 

Another Norfolk boy who served his country and lost his life in 
the War of the Rebellion was Edward J. Ryan, as he was known 
in town and among his schoolmates, many of whom still remember 
him. He was John Barlow, the son of Levi Barlow, mentioned else- 
where; was adopted by Mr. Edward E. Ryan and given the name 
In baptism of Edward John Ryan. 

He enlisted in Co. B, 3d Regiment, Conn. Vols., as John Barlow, 
and at the end of the three months' service was discharged. The 
following year he enlisted from Milan, N. Y., in Co. C, 128th N. Y. 
Vols. He went in the expedition to New Orleans under Gen. Banks, 
and there with others of his Regiment joined Company E, Capt. 
Yeaton, First Louisiana Cavalry. He was an orderly for Gen. 
Augur at the siege of Port Hudson. Later he was detailed as 
orderly to Col. Birge, 13th Conn. Vols. He was drowned in the 
Mississippi River at Carrollton, La., August 1, 1863." 

Col. Birge wrote Miss Barlow under date of Sept. 10, 1863, from 
Thibodeaux, La., as follows: 

"I am pained to be obliged to confirm the report which has 
reached you of your brother's death. ... I sympathize with 
you in your sad bereavement. Though your brother had been with 
me but a short time I had become much interested in him. He was 
correct in his habits, prompt and reliable in the discharge of his 
duty, and a good soldier. I wish he could have been spared for his 
country and for you. . . . Efforts to recover his body were un- 
successful. Your obedient servant, 

HENRY W. BIRGE, Col." 

THE SOLDIERS' MONUMENT. 

A few years after the close of the war of the rebellion a 
desire was generally felt in this community to have some 
suitable monument erected to the memory of those who 
from this town gave up their lives in the great struggle for 
the . preservation of our government. The place decided 
upon was near the centre of the park, in front of the Gon- 
sregational Church. The town voted |7o0 toward the ex- 
pense of the monument, the remainder being raised by pri- 
vate subscription. The monument was designed and built 
by William A. Burdick, the agent of the "Westerly quar- 
ries," from the celebrated granite of Westerly, Rhode 
Island. The whole cost of the monument was |2,200. It 
stands in a fine location and is an ornament as well as an 
honor to the town, being, as it is, a permanent recognition 



316 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

of the great sacrifice of the noble young men from this 
town who gave their lives in order that "a government of 
the people, by the people and for the people should not 
perish from the earth." 

The monument has two bases, a die, a plinth and a 
shaft. The lower base is six feet square, the second base 
four and a half feet square, and the die three feet nine 
inches square and three and a half feet high. The entire 
height of the monument is 24 feet and a little more. Upon 
the west side is the inscription, "To the memory of the 
soldiers from this town who gave their lives to their coun- 
try in the War of the Rebellion." Upon the four sides the 
names of thirty-five of those who gave their lives in the war 
are carved. 'The monument is simple, effective, grand; in 
its silent massiveness eloquent of the story it shall tell to 
all posterity of the steadfastness, even unto death, of those 
whose glorious deeds it commemorates, and whose memory 
it preserves.' The names of the soldiers upon the monu- 
ment are: 

Adjutant Samuel C. Barnum; died June 15, 1864. 

Lieutenant Hiram D. Gaylord; died Nov. 18, 1863. 

Corporal Theodore S. Bates; died Sept. 17, 1862. 

Corporal Damon S. Pendleton; died March 24, 1864. 

Corporal George H. Pendleton; died Oct. 11, 1864. 

Schuyler B. Pendleton; died Sept. 3, 1863. 

Sherman A. Apley; died June 1, 1864. 

Edward J. Humphrey; died April 22, 1862. 

Edward Hine; died July 18, 1864. 

Charles E. Keyes; died Dec. 22, 1862. 

Elizur Maltbie; died July 2, 1864. 

Samuel J. Mills; died Sept. 5, 1861. 

Russell A. Murphy; died 1864. 

Theodore Parrett; died Sept. 17, 1862. 

John W. Peck; died Feb. 9. 1862. 

George N. Andrus; died June 22, 1864. 

Albert H. Bailey; died April 7, 1862. 

George Barden; died June 15, 1863. 

Benjamin J. Beach; died Sept. 17, 1862. 

Christian Bejornson; died June 18, 1864. 

Leander Campbell; died June 3, 1864. 

George W. Cobb; died Oct. 23, 1862. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 317 

Michael Donahue; died Dec. 13, 1864. 
Willard Evans; died June 12, 1862. 
Joseph Robinson; died Sept. 17, 1864. 
Halsey Roberts; died Feb. 6, 1862. 
Timothy Ryan; died Aug. 2, 1862. 
Edward B. Sage; died May 4, 1864. 
John Sughrue; died April 20, 1862. 
Charles Spellman; died May 25, 1862. 
Sergeant Willis H. Tyrrell; died Aug. 25, 1863. 
Francis Steck; died 1865. 
Augiiste Didier; died (no date). 
Bowden E. Knapp; died (no date). 
Ensign Prince; died (no date). 

ADJUTANT SAMUEL C. BARNUTVI, MORTALLY WOU'NDED AT COLD 
HARBOR, VA. 

One of the noble men who gave his life freely, conscien- 
tiously and willingly for his country was Samuel C. Bar- 
num, whose record as a soldier is mentioned briefly above. 
Fortunately among the public records, and in the posses- 
sion of friends, who remember and recall him with great 
affection and tenderness, facts and material are to be 
found for a brief sketch of his life. 

Samuel Carter Barnum was born at Brookfield, Connecti- 
cut, in 1838. When he was about eight years old his mother 
died, leaving a large family of young children, and as his 
father did not feel equal to the task of properly caring for 
and training all his motherless children, homes were found 
for some of them, and for the little boy Samuel a home 
was offered by Mr. and Mrs. Philo M, Trowbridge of Wood- 
bury. When told that he was to go and have a home with 
Mr. Trowbridge, in his enthusiasm, which was a marked 
characteristic with him through his brief life, he threw up 
his hat and called out "three cheers" in his childish zeal. 
Few boys are as fortunately and happily placed in homes 
of their own parents as was he in the Christian home of 
Mr. and Mrs. Trowbridge, the latter being a native of Nor- 
folk, Miss Sarah Aiken, daughter of Mr. Lemuel Aiken, a 
well known and life long resident of this town. Surrounded 
by the best of Christian home influences and training, with 



318 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

good school advantages, grateful for and appreciative of 
all the kindness shown him and the advantages 
given him, he spent the years of his youth in Mr, 
Trowbridge's family . When about fifteen years of 
age, from close and intense application to his studies, there 
seemed danger of his health being seriously impaired, and 
the family physician advised that he, for at least a time, 
should be relieved from his studies and placed in some dif- 
ferent position. Just the right place for the boy, now 
coming into manhood, opened up for him in the home of 
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Curtiss of this town, the latter being 
a sister of Mrs. Trowbridge. Here he was given a position 
as clerk in Mr. Curtiss' store, and never was boy or young 
man more faithful and attentive to his duties than was he, 
and with his happy home life and most excellent Christian 
influences he was again most pleasantly and favorably 
situated. With the same degree of truthfulness could it 
have been said of him during his life in Norfolk, as when in 
the army: "Wherever he had acquaintances he had 
friends." After some five years' experience in Mr. Curtiss' 
store he accepted the position of bookkeeper in the Norfolk 
Hosiery Company, and in that position he remained until 
his country's call "to arms" was sounded, when, upon Presi- 
dent Lincoln's first call for volunteers for three months, the 
name of Samuel C. Barnuni was one of the vei*y first en- 
rolled from this town. He served as a private during that 
three months' campaign, being present and taking part in 
the first battle at Bull Run, and it is safe to say that no 
soldier in the army or citizen at home felt more chagrin, 
disappointment and humiliation at that disastrous defeat 
than did he. At the close of the three months for which he 
had enlisted he returned to his home in Norfolk for a few 
days, his mind being fully made up to again enter the 
service, and shortly afterward he enlisted for three years 
in the Eleventh Connecticut Regiment. He was every inch 
a soldier, as will appear by some extracts from letters 
which he wrote when at the front, addressed to his foster 
father and ever dear friend, Mr. P. M. Trowbridge, and 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 319 

which are found in full in the ^'History of Woodbury." 

He entered the service in the Eleventh Connecticut in 
November, 1861. His first letter, which was preserved, was 
dated Newbern, N. C, March 18, 1862, in which he men- 
tions his Regiment going in an expedition to Newbern, and 
describes the battle at that place: ''The firing continued 
about four or five hours. The stars and stripes were plant- 
ed on the enemies' breastwork about 11.30 o'clock, and then 
such cheering and shouting. It must have penetrated even 
further than the roar and din of battle had, but a few 
minutes before. The rebels fled in great confusion and 
haste. In some of their camps food was still cooking, or 
spread upon the tables. They burnt the bridge command- 
ing the approach to Newbern, and set the city on fire. Our 
loss was 91 killed, 463 wounded, and of the wounded some 
20 mortally so. Our men, with a few individual exceptions, 
acted nobly in the fight. I can hardly say enough in praise 
of the brave men. . . . The boys were busy for a day 
or two in securing prizes. I have a splendid genuine seces- 
sion flag, which I would not swap for all the rest. I intend 
to send it to Norfolk the first opportunity I have. Won't 
it excite a sensation there, though?" 

That "genuine secession flag" is still in the possession 
of Mrs. Peter Curtiss. 

''The country for miles around is almost entirely de- 
serted. The men have been allowed to go out foraging 
quite freely. It would amuse you to see them come in. 
Some will have a pig or sheep slung over his shoulder, and 
some come with a mule or horse loaded down with poultry. 
. The slaves here seem overjoyed at our success, 
and avow that they never shall call any man master again. 
I am now enjoying the satisfaction of having done my 
duty, and wiped out Bull Run." 

Yours affectionately, 

Samuel C. Barnum. 

To P. M. Trowbridge, Esq." 

He wrote from Washington, D. C, Sept. 6, 1862, to Mr. 
Trowbridge, as follows: ''Our regiment arrived here night 



320 HISTOEY OF NORFOLK. 

before last. We are now bivouacking on the very identical 
spot upon which the Second Connecticut were encamped. 
How curious the coincidence, and how little I thought 
when I left it, over one year ago, to advance into Virginia, 
that after a year of marching, voyages, battles, privations, 
etc., I should come back to the old camp ground, to begin 
anew; for it seems that our forces are but little advanced, 
comparatively, from what they were at that time. Still 
I have hope that all will yet be well. We evacuated Fred- 
ericksburg on the 31st of August, burning the bridge be- 
hind us. Our regiment was a part of the rear guard, and 
did not arrive at Acquia Creek until the morning of the 
8d. The men are all well and in good spirits. We shall 
remain here probably not long, as we are under marching 
orders. I do not know where we are going. I am still in 
command of Co. K, alone. I am rejoiced to hear that the 
North are at last wide awake." 

Again he wrote: 

"Camp of 11th Connecticut Volunteers, 

Opposite Fredericksburg, Va,, Nov. 27, 1862." 

My Dear Friend: ''It is Thanksgiving in Conn, today, 
and I have been thinking of you constantly, and I need not 
say how often I have wished I were with you to enjoy it. 
There are so many pleasing associations clustering about 
the day that it has always seemed to me one of the happiest 
of the year. Bright visions of your festivities have flitted 
before me today, until I have almost imagined myself there 
in reality. And thus it is I often derive great satisfaction 
in the thought of the happiness of friends at home. You 
must not imagine, however, that I am wanting in the com- 
forts of life. On the contrary I have enjoyed a sumptuous 
dinner today, prepared by the cook of our mess, and at 
which Col. Harland, our Brigadier, and Surgeon Warner of 
the Sixteenth were guests. I enjoyed it, but felt almost 
guilty at the thought that the men of the regiment had 
nothing but hard crackers and "salt junk." The rank and 
file are the ones who make the greatest sacrifices, after all. 
You wish me to tell what position I occupy, etc. I am at 



HISTOEY OF NORFOLK. 321 

present acting as Adjutant. The Adjutancy is a staff ap- 
pointment and a very desirable situation. His business is 
to make all reports, etc., of the regiment, write, publish 
and copy all orders, attend to the officers' correspondence, 
and in the field to form the regiment and assist in maneu- 
vering it; also to mount the guard. I am entitled to a horse 
and many other privileges which I could not otherwise 
have. Besides I very much enjoy the society with which 
it brings me in contact. Col. Stedman has told me that he 
should be pleased to have me remain wiiere I am, but at 
any time I wish to go in the line I can have a captaincy. 
My present rank is that of First Lieutenant." 
Yours affectionately, 

am Ti HT m u -J -c^ >5 Samuel C. Barnum." 

"To P. M. Trowbridge, Esq." 

He wrote again Dec. 10, 1862: "I am still with the field 
and staff, and enjoy it very much, not only as it is just in 
my line of business, writing, but it brings me into a very 
refined circle of society, under the influences of which I 
feel that I am improving. It is announced this afternoon 
that the troops will move tomorrow morning at daylight. 
Stirring scenes are ahead. While I write the rumbling of 
wagons, etc., betokens preparation for the coming contest. 
We may awake tomorrow morning to the music of cannon. 
The battle may be severe and critical. I am inclined to 
think it will be. This seems to me a critical period. Great 
events may be hanging on the issues of the next few days. 
God grant that our cause may triumph this time. Maybe 
you would like to know what my feelings are in regard to 
the prospect of a fight. I assure you they are none of those 
ever described as "spoiling for a fight." I would much 
rather the thing be accomplished without the shedding of 
a single drop of blood; but if it is to be otherwise, I desire 
to meet it squarely, cooly and bravely. The experiences of 
Newbern, South Mountain and Antietam have taught me 
that there is an awful reality to be sternly met." 

The evening of December 11th he wrote again, in part 



322 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

as follows: "Just as I predicted last night, we awoke this 
morning to the music of cannon. At precisely five o'clock 
A. M. the sullen boom of a heavy gun sounded out upon the 
morning air, and opened the ball. Our troops are in Fred- 
ericksburg, and the city is in ruins and burning." A few 
days later he wrote again to Mr. Trowbridge, giving quite 
a vivid report of the terrible battle at Fredericksburg on 
the 12th and 13th. "On the morning of the 13th we were 
detailed to support the pickets in front of the 3d division, 
which were stationed just beyond the outskirts of the city. 
At about 10 A. M. the engagement became gen- 
eral. The picket headquarters were at a small house on an 
eminence, considerably to our left, and within 800 yards of 
the rebel breastworks. From this position we could ob- 
serve every movement on each side.. . . The position 
of the enemy was one of great strength, not only by nature 
but by all the appliances of military science. ... As 
soon as our men emerged from the city they were opened 
upon with shell, and as they came nearer, by the infantry. 
The shell made awful havoc among them. The first to 
advance was Couch's corps, Hancock's division. We could 
see the men fall, and flags go down and come up again, 
and count the dead and wounded behind them, as they 
swept on, by dozens. . . . On the night of the 15th 
we recrossed the river and reached our old camp, which 
had been left standing, before midnight. 

I am rejoiced to see that the public do not blame our be- 
loved General Burnside, for we think that he did every- 
thing that lay in his power, and that, too, with a vigilance, 
promptness and gallantry which reflect great honor upon 
him. It is said that he did not want to advance at the 
time he did, and thought that to do so would result only 
in slaughter, but he was ordered to do so. The sequel 
proved his superior wisdom. . . . For my part I am 
tired of this useless sacrifice of life. I feel a strong devotion 
to my country. I am willing to undergo any privation or 
sacrifice, even to that of my life, to establish its union and 
maintain its honor, but I do not like to throw my life away 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 323 

at the caprice of those who do not understand the move- 
ments and welfare of any army." 

Yours affectionately, 

m Ti T.*^ m u -J T-i „ Samuel C. Barnum." 

To P. M. Trowbridge, Esq." 

In "Cothren's History of Woodbury," in tlie "List of Woodbury 
Soldiers in the War of the Rebellion," is the following: "Samuel 
C. Barnum enlisted in the three mouths' troops May 7th, 18(51, and 
was in the battle of Bull Run. Enlisted the second time in Co. E, 
Eleventh Conn. A^olunteers, November 27th, 1861. For good con- 
duct in battle he was promoted successively to be Second Lieu- 
tenant, and First Lieutenant and Adjutant June 16th, 1862. For a 
time he acted as A. A. A. G. of Brigade. He was wounded at Cold 
Harbor June 3d, 1864, and died of secondary hemorrhage at Wash- 
ington, D. C, June 19th, 1864. He sent for his foster-father. Deacon 
P. M. Trowbridge, to attend him, and he was with him when he 
died. He was very cheerful under his sufferings, endured them 
with great fortitude, and finally died almost instantly, a true 
Christian patriot." 

From "History of Connecticut During the Rebellion." 
"Colonel Stedman led his brigade bravely in the terrible onset 
for the possession of Cold Harbor, on the night of June 2, 1864. 
In a private letter written at the time Col. Stedman said: "We 
formed in the woods in solid columns. I gave the command For- 
ward. We started with unloaded muskets and fixed bayonets. I 
was the first to enter the open field and see the enemy's lines,— a 
curve. I bade farewell to all I loved. It seemed impossible to 
survive that fire, but I was spared, while the officers of my staff 
who followed me closely were struck down. We reached a point 
within thirty yards of the enemy's main works, but the fire was 
too murderous and my men were repulsed. We left the works with 
two thousand men; in five minutes we returned six hundred less." 

The "Eleventh" had lost nine killed and seventy-five wounded. 
The Colonel escaped with several bullet holes through his coat. 
Major Converse, Capt. Amos S. Allen and Adjutant Samuel C. 
Barnum were mortally wounded, and soon died." 

"From History of Connecticut During the Rebellion." 
June 24, 1864, Col. Stedman wrote: . . . "One thing makes 
me sad,— the loss of so many friends. Yesterday I learned that 
Adjutant Barnum's leg had been amputated, and to-day that he is 
dead. I loved him very dearly. Always cheerful and happy, he 
was a most efficient officer, and a perfect gentleman. I do not 



324 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

think I ever heard him utter a word that he might not say to 
ladies, and I once told him I consider that the best rule for one's 
guidan-ee is, never to say or do among meB what would be improper 
before mother or sister." 

The following is from the "Connecticut War Record" of July, 
1864, in their correspondence by the Chaplain of the Regiment: 

"From the Eleventh Regiment," 

"Field near Petersburg, Va., June 30, 1864. 
. . . Friday, the 3d inst, at Cold Harbor was a day of blood. 
How our loved ones and our mighty fell in battle. The heroic and 
accomplished Major Converse, foremost in danger, most trusted of 
the staff ofl3cers of General Martindale, was mortally wounded at 
the first volley in that terrible charga ... In that charge 
many of our bravest and best were cut down. It was but a few 
moments. The point was not carried. The fire was murderous; 
a perfect hail-storm of lead; a tempest of ball rain. In that charge 
we lost one hundred men. An hour or two afterwards on that 
bloody morning a minnie ball struck Adjutant Barnum in the leg. 
He was Colonel Stedman's Adjutant General; always at his side 
and therefore always in danger, if duty became dangerous. We 
thought it would prove not a permanent injury, nor lead to amputa- 
tion. His patient endurance deceived us, for his fortitude in endur- 
ing was not surpassed by his bravery in receiving the wound. But 
we now mourn him also, for we hear from Washington that a tardy 
amputation was followed by a speedy death. He died among his 
friends, who attended him in those last days; but he always had 
friends wherever he had acquaintances. Thus another of that little 
circle which are known as the Field and Staff of the 11th Connec- 
ticut Volunteers has become a martyr of liberty. Let their names 
go down to posterity with others. ... A picture of Saturday the 
4th would give an idea of the days we have passed. I was early 
at the front, asking Colonel Stedman if possible to come for one- 
half hour to the hospital. There Major Converse was dying. By 
his side was the Adjutant, Barnum, smiling, without a groan or 
murmur, but pale. . . . Let the long list of officers and men who 
have suffered and died in battle,— who have joined the number of 
martyrs of Liberty, tell what we have done in the National cause." 
(By Chaplain H. C. DeForest.) 

When Adjutant Barnum was first wounded in that ter- 
rible battle at Cold Harbor, he would not believe that he 
was permanently disabled, that he could do no more, and at 
first refused to be taken from the field, thinking that after 
a little he should be able to mount his horse again and do 




COLONEL GEORGE RYAN. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 325 

further service. So eager was he to do more in his country's 
service into which he had entered with all his heart and 
soul that he reluctantly consented to the amputation of his 
leg, as he hoped it might be saved, and he be a whofe, 
sound man again, to further serve his country. He was 
not only "every inch a soldier," he was as true a patriot as 
ever went forth to war, and a willing martyr. He gave his 
life, and longed for another life to give. The surgeon who 
attended him said that his fortitude and courage at the 
amputation of his limb were most remarkable and rare. 
Not a groan, a murmur or a complaint did he make. He 
was removed to Washington, and at a hotel everything 
that his old friends and new found friends were able to do 
in ministering to him was most gladly done; but unex- 
pectedly, almost instantly at last, his noble life went out. 
He was but twenty-six years old. 

COLONEL GEOKGE RYAN, MORTALLY WOUNDED IN THE BATTLE OF 
THE WILDERNESS. 

Another of Norfolk's noblest boys who most faithfully 
and efficiently served his country and gave his life in the 
War of the Rebellion was Colonel George Ryan, who as 
Colonel of the 140th New York Regiment led his men in a 
charge at the battle of Laurel Hill, or Spottsylvania, Va., 
where he was mortally wounded May 8th, 1864. He was 
a son of John Ryan; was brought to Norfolk when an in- 
fant; spent the days of his childhood, youth and early man- 
hood here; was much beloved by all his friends and com- 
panions, being a gentleman of refinement by nature and 
early training, and his early death was deeply lamented. 

George Ryan, Colonel of 140th New York Volunteers, 
Captain of 7th Infantry, United States Army, son of John 
and Joanna Boomer Ryan, was born April 19th, 1836, at 
Medway, Mass. About one year after his birth the family 
removed to Norfolk, where he attended the District School 
and the Academy taught by William B. Rice, previous to 
entering the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, July 
Ist, 1853, having been appointed a cadet there by Judge 



326 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Origen S. Seymour of Litchfield, who was then Congress- 
man from the Western District of Connecticut. He was 
graduated and promoted in the army to Brevet Second 
Lieutenant of Infantry July 1st, 1857, and served in garri- 
son at Newport Barracks, Ky., until some time in the 
following year. He was assigned to the 1st Infantry as 
Second Lieutenant, Oct. 31st, 1857, but was transferred 
June 24th, 1858, to the 7th Infantry. During the years 
1858-60 he was on duty in the Mormon campaign, which 
terminated in the capture of Utah. July 1st, 1859, he was 
in an Indian fight at Camp Box Elder. In 1860 marched 
with his regiment to New Mexico, and was stationed for 
some time at Fort Defiance. He participated in the Navajo 
expedition of 1860-61. He was promoted to First Lieu- 
tenant, 7th Infantry, April 22d, 1861. During the early 
part of the rebellion of the seceding states he was convoy- 
ing trains, and was captured July 27th, 1861, at San Augus- 
tine Springs, N. M., by Confederates, and was not 
exchanged until August 27th, 1862. While on parole he 
did garrison duty at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., and on the 
Canadian frontier. He was Adjutant of the 7th Infantry 
from September 1st, 1861, to July 9th, 1862, when he was 
made one of its Captains. Upon being exchanged he 
joined the Army of the Potomac with his regiment, and 
was engaged at Smucker's Gap November .3d, 1862, on the 
march to Falmouth, Va. He was detailed December 1st, 
1862, to be Acting Assistant Adjutant General of the 2d 
Division, 5th Army Corps, which division was composed of 
regulars, except the 140th New York and some other volun- 
teer forces. He was in the Rappahannock campaign from 
December, 1862, to June, 1863, being in the battle of Fred- 
ericksburg, where he rendered meritorious services which 
received due recognition from General George Sykes, his 
division commander; and also in the battle of Chancellors- 
ville. May 24th, 1863, where he did so well that he was 
again publicly complimented by General Sykes and recom- 
mended by him for promotion. He was in the Pennsylvania 
campaign, June and July, 1863, having been engaged in 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 327 

the battle of Gettysburg July lst-3d, and in the pursuit of 
the enemy to Warrenton, Va. In this campaign he was 
Chief of Staff for General R. B. Ayers, then commanding 
this 2d division, who, in his report of that battle, favorably 
mentioned Captain Ryan for the intelligence and gallantry 
shown by him in that sanguinary contest. After ten 
months at the front, performing every duty with a zeal and 
ability that completely won the admiration of the entire 
division, he was, August 29th, 1863, upon the unanimous 
request of the officers of the 140th New York, appointed 
its Colonel by Governor Horatio Seymour. He promptly 
entered upon his work with an energy and thoroughness 
of method that soon attracted general attention. No de- 
tail seemed to escape him. Even the personnel of each 
soldier appeared to be taken by him into account, for 
before long it was noticed that he never spoke to an officer 
or man except by giving his proper name without the 
slightest hesitation. 

In the Rapidan campaign, October to December, 1863, 
Colonel Ryan and the 140th were engaged in the combat at 
Rappahannock Station, November 7th, and in actions on 
the Rapidan and Mine Run, November 24th to December 
1st, '63. 

On the 5th of May, 1864, the first battle of the Wilder- 
ness was fought. The 140th New York occupied a position 
in the center of the first brigade, first division of the Fifth 
Corps, General Ayres commanding. 

Colonel Ryan led his regiment in a most gallant charge 
against the enemy, where bullets poured from the right 
flank and rear; the regulars failing to come up, and seeing 
that his regiment was about to be surrounded, they fell 
back, and following their Colonel they cut their way 
through the rebel line to their point of starting. The num- 
ber of dead, wounded and missing in this charge was 365 
men and eleven commissioned officers. 

This gallant regiment was in other charges and skir- 
mishes in that terrible battle of the 'Wilderness,' on the 
6th and 7th of May. On the night of the 7th they moved 



328 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

from the position tliey had occupied to the extreme left of 
the line, marching all night. Before they had time to cook 
their rations in the morning orders came to resume their 
forced march, which they did. Sheridan's cavalry were 
fighting in the woods, and being likely to be overpowered, 
two regiments were ordered to charge. Colonel Ryan led 
the charge on double quick, with dauntless ardor, on the 
rebel line, which was lying behind a rail fence. When 
about 300 yards from the fence the rebels rose and poured 
a fierce volley on the advancing column, which broke and 
drove back in confusion the Twelfth regulars, but it did 
not impede the onward march of the 140th boys, who, fol- 
lowing their brave Colonel, rushed on to within fifty paces 
of the fence and, halting, poured a volley into the rebels 
that fairly swept them from the ground. Rushing forward, 
the men commenced tearing down and climbing over the 
rail fence, when the gallant Colonel Ryan was struck in 
the neck by a bullet and fell from his horse. The rebel 
lines re-formed and the regiment was ordered to fall back, 
which it did, bearing the bleeding body of their beloved 
Colonel Ryan. He was wounded about eleven o'clock iu 
the morning and died about four o'clock in the afternoon. 
Colonel Ryan had barely reached the age of 28 years 
when his career, so full of promise, was thus closed. Yet 
he had already made a fine record. General Ayres said: 
^'George Ryan showed us all what could be done with a regi- 
ment; he was the best colonel in the army." Colonel Ryan 
was buried at Decatur, Ills., where his parents then re- 
sided, but soon afterwards they complied with the request 
of the survivors of the 140th, who had organized the 
favorite military corps of Rochester, N. Y., the Ryan 
Zouaves, in allowing his remains to be disinterred by them 
and removed to the latter city, where the regiment had 
been raised, and where he now reposes with many of his 
old command. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 329 



XXII. 

HIGHWAYS — A RAn>ROAD OVER THE HILLS. 

An important matter, one of deep interest and concern 
to the early settlers, was the question of roads or highways. 
We must not lose sight of the fact that this and practically 
all the towns adjoining were in early days one ''forest 
primeral"; that the usual mode of travel was on foot, or at 
best on horseback. When Kev. Ammi R. Bobbins brought 
his bride to this town in 1702 they rode upon horseback, 
his wife riding behind him upon a ^pillion' and one horse 
with a saddle and pillion were considered ample means of 
conveyance on quite a journey for a man and wife with 
two or more children. The roads were little if anything 
more than a mere trail or bridle path, cleared of under- 
brush or fallen trees, through the forests, turning to avoid 
a tree or a rock. 

Eoys says: "The first road cut through Norfolk was 
done by Capt. Isaac Lawrence of Canaan. In its course 
it came to what we now call Loon Meadow. There they 
found a meadow or opening of some extent. The grass 
grew upon it in considerable quantity and of good quality. 
On it they found a dead loon that had apparently come to 
the close of life in a quiet manner, and this circumstance 
gave the name to the place." 

Boyd, in his Annals of Winchester, says: "Before the 
survey and allotment of the Winchester lands, settlements 
in Goshen, Norfolk and Canaan had begun, rendering it 
necessary for settlers from the eastern towns to pass 
through our township to their new homes. The Lawrences 
and other settlers of Canaan, about 1738 to 1740, came 
from Windsor and Simsbury, first entered the wilderness 
by way of New Hartford, the northeast part of Winchester 



330 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

and southwest part of Colebrook, to the center of Norfolk. 
They left their families and stock at points along the way 
where openings in the forest could be found for grazing, 
and went forward with their axes and cut down the trees 
and cleared a trail from one such opening to another and 
then moved their caravan. Tradition says they made one 
of their halts on the Hoyt Farm in Colebrook, and went 
forward with their trail to a natural meadow at the north- 
erly border of the small pond, a mile east of Norfolk Cen- 
ter, where they found a dead loon, and hence the name by 
which the location is known. They returned and brought 
forward their families and flocks to this oasis." Mr. Boyd's 
location of Loon Meadow, "at the northerly border of the 
small pond a mile east of Norfolk Center," is not quite cor- 
rect, the location being a mile or more northeast from 
Wilcox Pond, as this little sheet of water was formerly 
called. "From Loon Meadow they cleared their way to the 
foot of Haystack Mountain, and thence along the Black- 
berry River to the land of Canaan, which to them must 
have been a happy land indeed after the toils and priva- 
tions of their journey." 

This'road or way mentioned by Boyd, from Loon Meadow 
toward Canaan, doubtless ran somewhere near the line of 
what was later called the "Tucker Road," which led from 
Loon Meadow, south of the Dea. David Frisbie, later the 
John Nettleton, now the Frank Jackman place, half a 
mile or more north of the pond, coming out upon Beech 
Flats, near the old Humphrey place, later the Lemuel Bige- 
low, now the Mrs. C. J. Cole residence, on near the present 
Laurel Way, to the former residence of Michael F. Mills, 
Esq., now The Hillhurst; then down the hill west, crossing 
the meadow and Haystack Brook, and up near the old resi- 
dence of Col. Giles Pettibone, winding around the hill near 
the present Methodist church; through the present Centre 
Cemetery; on west along the side of Haystack Mountain 
and Ragged Mountain, at some little distance up from the 
river in many places; passing above West Norfolk, on to 
the earliest settlements in the town, the house of Cornelius 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 331 

Brown and John Turner, later the Ives, Pease and Holt 
farms, the present residence of Nathaniel S. Lawrence, and 
the Eldridge farm, into Canaan. 

Roys sends the party that found the dead loon on by a 
different route from that mentioned in Boyd's tradition. 
Quoting Roys again, he says: ''There they gave part of 
their team a chance to feed, and with the remainder went 
forward towards what was after called the North Green. 
They returned at night and found all things safe and also 
an increase of their stock, — a mare which they left in the 
morning had brought them a fine colt. This road or pass- 
way led on through the northwest part of the town, near 
Mr. John Smith's, and on to what is called the College 
farm." This road, running northwest from the present 
farm of Frank Jackman, passed the Titus Nettleton, the 
Lawrence Mills and the Earl Percy Hawley farms, and 
came out at the North Green, just where it is joined by the 
"Lovers' Lane" road, running north from the Hillhurst. 
On this green, which was then a clear, open lot, stood the 
school-house of the "North Middle District." Erastus Burr 
and probably others are living who attended school at this 
place. Passing the present residence of Egbert T. Butler, 
the road turned northwest at the present schoolhouse, and 
on to the College Farm, and thence into Canaan. 

In the records of the General Assembly, May session, 
1758, we find: "Being advised that the road or way now 
often travelled through the towns of Simsbury, New Hart- 
ford and Norfolk, to and through the northwestern parts of 
Canaan, towards Albany, is in many respects ill chosen 
and unfit for use, and that some new and better road 
through said towns, or some of them, or the towns ad- 
jacent, may probably be discovered more direct and con- 
venient, as well for carriages as travelling, to the great 
accommodation and benefit of his Majesty's subjects, and 
especially in time of war, occasionally travelling or march- 
ing, either from the eastern or central parts of the colony ; 
therefore Resolved, That Colonel John Pitkin of Hartford, 
Seth Wetmore of Middletown and Colonel David Whitney 



332 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

of Canaan be appointed a committee, as soon as conven- 
iently may be, to repair to and through said towns, and 
towns adjacent if need be, and with all care and diligence 
to view and observe said roads now used, and also with the 
utmost care to explore and find out how and where any 
other shorter and better way, in whole or in part, may be 
practicable, and their full description thereof with their 
opinion thereon, make report to the Assembly October 
next." 

The Assembly accepted their report and directed the 
committee to ''lay out and make plain and certain the said 
new country road from the mansion house of Samuel Hum- 
phrey in Simsbury to Colonel David Whitney's in Canaan." 
"In May, 1760, the committee having discharged their duty, 
the Assembly ordered the way to be cleared and made 
passable for travelling before November 20, 1761, by the 
towns and proprietors of townships through which it ran," 
etc. 

In Annals of Winchester, Boyd says: "This thorough- 
fare, known to a former generation as 'The North Road,' 
and now almost a myth, had in its day an importance and 
renown which justified our detailed history of its origin 
and progress. According to tradition, it was a wonder of 
the age that a direct and practicable route could be found 
and opened through the jungles and over the succession of 
steep, rocky hills and mountains of the 'Green Woods' for 
travel, and the movement of troojjs and munitions between 
Hartford and Albany. It soon became and continued until 
1800 the great and almost the sole thoroughfare of the 
colony in the direction of Albany. Continental troops 
passed over it for frontier service. Detachments of Bur- 
goyne's army, as prisoners of war, marched over it to the 
quarters assigned them. ... It should not be in- 
ferred from the amount of travel that this was an 'Appian 
Way.' On the contrary, direct as it was, it went up and 
down the highest hills, on uneven beds of rocks and stones, 
and passed marshy valleys on corduroy of the coarsest 
hemlock log texture. Commencing at the North-end village 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 333 

in New Hartford, it ran westerly up a steep hill, then 
turned northwesterly through the Bourbon region, cross- 
ing the Greenwoods turnpike a little west of the toll-gate, 
then northerly by zigzags to the top of a lofty hill, then 
over Wallen's Hill by the northeast schoolhouse, down to 
Still Kiver near Daniel Wilson's, then up Dishmill Hill 
and onward by the Kowley Pond to Colebrook, and onward 
through Colebrook Center to Pond Hill in Norfolk, and 
thence by Norfolk Center and Canaan toward Albany. 

Another bridle-path entered the township from the 
vicinity of Burrville, and passed northwesterly by landlord 
Mott's Tavern to the south part of Norfolk before any 
settlement was made. In 1702 a committee of the As- 
sembly, previously appointed, reported a highway, ^begin- 
ning at a rock about three rods west of the fore door of the 
house belonging to Rev. Mr. Gold in Torringford, and run- 
ning in a northwesterly direction a little more than a mile 
to Still River, about a hundred rods south of Yale's Mill, 
at Burrville; thence in a northwesterly direction by Spec- 
tacle Pond and Mott's house, to a stake and stones in Nor- 
folk line.' " 

This road doubtless came into the South End district in 
Norfolk, passing over the Stannard farm, made its way by 
various turns and angles to the vicinity of the Grants, by 
the Beckley place, near Blakesley pond, Carter Hill, Chest- 
nut Hill, over Gaylord Hill to Beech Flats, there joining 
the other road coming from Colebrook, mentioned above. 

Boyd says again: "This was the South Road, by which 
emigrants from the southeastern towns wended their toil- 
some way to the western townships in process of settle- 
ment. It was so 'hard a road to travel' that good Landlord 
Burr, living near the Hayden brick yard, used, it was said, 
to detain his travelling guests until after morning worship, 
that they might have the benefit of his prayers in aid of 
their arduous efforts to get up the old dug-way road west 
of Burrville, an aid greatly needed. . . . There is a 
tradition that Col. Ethan Allen, while on military service 
in the Revolutionary War, presumed to desecrate the Sab- 



334 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

bath by travelling over one of these roads, instead of spend- 
ing the day in sacred meditations at the hostelry of Land- 
lord Phelps, or Roberts on Wallen's Hill, or of Landlord 
Freedom Right, further westward, when a little, bushy- 
headed grand juror of our town, Winchester, emerged from 
his log cabin by the road-side, seized the bridle rein of the 
Colonel's charger, and attempted to arrest him as a Sab- 
bath-breaker. The Colonel, sternly eyeing the legal dig- 
nitary, drew his sword, and flourishing it aloft, irreverently 
exclaimed: 'You woodchuck, get back into your bur- 
row or I'll cut your head off.' Grand Juror Balcomb, find- 
ing what a Tartar he had caught, prudently abandoned his 
captive and retired to his cabin." 

This country road, or 'old colony road,' sometimes so 
called, from Beech Flats east, passed the Capt. Benjamin 
Bigelow place and on over the hill, formerly called Gaylord 
Hill, upon the summit of which stood the house of Reuben 
Gaylord, son of Timothy Gaylord, one of the early settlers. 
Then it passed on down the hill, turned south and ran near 
and east of Blakesly Pond, on a little east of the modern 
Grantville, into the town of Winchester. 

As proof that this route mentioned above was the regu- 
larly travelled road to Winchester in former times, I cite 
an incident as related by a member of the family. Rev. 
Ira Pettibone, in 1857, settled as pastor of the church in 
Winchester. After that date Mrs. Bidwell, a sister of Mrs. 
Pettibone, — both ladies being daughters of Dr. Benj. 
Welch, Sen., — was driving from Norfolk to Winchester, 
knowing the old route thoroughly; so she went up the hill 
east to the Flats, turned to the right, as the law directs, 
passed the old Capt. Bigelow place and on over Gaylord's 
Hill. She reached Winchester, but via brush pastures, 
gates, bars, rail fences and other tribulations, the road for 
a considerable distance having been discontinued for sev- 
eral years. (Moral: Be sure you take the right road; if 
not sure, enquire.) 

In his Century Sermon Dr. Thomas Bobbins said: "The 
first road through the town from Canaan to Torrington 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 335 

came on the north side of the main stream of the town, 
through what was called the Dug-waj, over the hill north 
of the Burying-ground; thence south and ascended the 
north side of this hill, coming along on the summit of what 
we used to call 'The Ledge/ about where Mr. Battell's 
house now stands; passed to the south, crossing to the 
west of the bridge near the west side of my father's house, 
and went on to the south, near the foot of the Burr Moun- 
tain. The road to Goshen was opened soon, but the eastern 
one I suppose was the first." 

By 'this hill,' Dr. Bobbins evidently meant the hill on 
which the meeting-house stood in which he was then 
speaking. The road came up from near the grist-mill, on 
the summit of . . . the Ledge, a little west of where Mr. 
Battell's house now stands, and a little west of the meet- 
ing-house, along where the chapel now stands, and where 
the Eldridge mansion stands, west of the Bobbins house, 
where now stands the Bobbins school; up south, crossing 
the Goshen road at an acute angle about thirty rods west 
of the entrance to the Bridgman grounds and near the 
Bridgman mansion, 'the foot of the Burr Mountain,' which 
is near the old Tibbals place, later the Joel Beach place, 
and then on south along the west foot of Button Hill, 
coming out to the present Goshen road not far from the 
railroad crossing; then on in about the line of the present 
road, passing the old Moses place, now the summer resi- 
dence of Dr. A. S. Dennis; on south past the old Asa Burr 
place at the crossing of the east and west road; thence 
south, passing the Capt. Reuben Brown place and the Seth 
Brown place, the Hiram Roys place, the Eden Riggs, Har- 
mon Riggs, Miles Riggs, Frederick Riggs place, down the 
hill, passing the Harlow Roys residence, later the Samuel 
D. North way, now the Charles Northway residence; cross- 
ing the Naugatuck river, here a mere brook, very near 
the old tannery site; on southwest, up the 'steep hill road,' 
east of Ethan Pendleton's house and over the top of the 
high hill into Goshen. 

Roys says: "Course of road south of meeting-house es- 



336 HI5T0EY OF XOETC'LK. 

tablished l^y2. Tue present road to Goshei established 

The next road rmining sonth started near the grist-mill 
and circled around «»uth and west, past the old Monger 
place, later occupied bv Solomon Curtiss. Dea. Jonathan 
Kjlbonm and others, now owned by Edward Gaylord: then 
tnming sonth at the old Aiken place, later the Lewis Dowd 
plac-e. since owned by Mr. Edward Swift: thence south. 
passing the Cuniss plac-e. on up the hill south, as is men- 
tioned elsewhere, passing where Samuel and Xoah Tibbals 
lived ; on south by the golf grounds and the end of -the 
winrow." to near the present residence of Mr. Amos Collar, 
previously the Silas, and Ehaniel Burr, and still earlier the 
Nathaniel Eoys place: then, avoiding the low meadow, as 
was always done in laying out roads, they kep»t on west a 
short distance, then turned south to what was later the 
Edmund Brown, then the Ealph and Plumb Brown, now 
the Benjamin Brown place: then east about as the preseni 
road runs until it joined the Goshen road, at which junction 
stood the old schoolhouse of the South Middle Districr. 
later c-alled the South Center District. This old s<:ho<:»l- 
house was built into a blacksmith shop soon after l>4(i 
by Mr. Samuel Johnson, a new schoolhouse having t»een 
built in the hollow at the foot of the hill. west, and not 
many years sinc-e rebuilt at the junction of the <joshen and 
Winchester r<:»ads. East, a short distance from the Brown 
farm just mentioned, a road branched off south, piassing the 
fJac-e where Mr. Abraham Balcom lived, a half mile or so 
south, passing not far from a small p«ond. called from him 
Balcom Pond, or sometimes Dolphin Pond, from an Indian 
named Dolphin, who lived near there. This old road •:: 
trail went on south through Meekertown. near the house 
of Mr. Phineas Meeker, until it joined the road running 
to Sooth Canaan. 

The Greenwoods turnpLke. for half a century or more a 
great thoroughfare t«erween Hartford and Alt«any. p«assing 
diagonally across this town from east to west, was c-om- 
pleted in 1799, at a cost of |19.500. as is mentioned by Boys. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 337 

This turnpike road was built by an incorporated company, 
and the stock for many years paid a good dividend, and 
was somewhat sought for as an investment. These turn- 
pike roads were under the supervision of commissioners 
appointed by the governor, their duty being to inspect the 
road, and if it was not kept in satisfactory repair they 
were authorized to order the toll-gates to be thrown open 
and no toll received until the road was satisfactorily re- 
paired. Persons travelling to or from public worship were 
exempt from paying toll at any turnpike gate. 

The ownership of the highway was vested in the com- 
pany, as appears by an act passed October, 1801, when it 
was enacted "That the property of all trees now growing, 
or which shall hereafter be set out for shade or ornament 
within the limits of the highway, purchased by the Turn- 
pike Company, and of all the stones and other material left 
on said road when the same was opened, is hereby vested 
in said company. Each and every person who shall, with- 
out the permission of said company, take up or destroy any 
such tree or trees, or shall remove from off said road any 
stone or other material, shall forfeit to and for the use of 
said company three times the value of such trees or stones; 
and for each tree so cut down, taken up or destroyed, a 
further sum of two dollars, besides the three-fold value 
thereof as aforesaid." There was a toll-gate toward West 
Norfolk. Persons using the turnpike could, if they desired, 
pay a certain sum for the year. The rates of toll were: 
For each head of neat cattle, etc., Ic. A single horse and 
wagon, 'four pence ha-penny' (6 1-4 cents.) A double team 
and wagon, nine pence (12 1-2 cents.) For a loaded two- 
horse team, 'one and tuppence' (18 3-4 cts.), etc. 

THE OLD TOLL GATE. 

(From the CONNECTicnT Western News, October, 1872). 

"The collecting of tolls from the old Turnpike G-ate, be- 
tween Norfolk and West Norfolk, was discontinued the 
first of the present month. The first gate on the Green- 



338 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

woods turnpike, running from Hartford to Albany, was 
located near the present residence of Mr. James Humphrey, 
in West Norfolk, and was one of the most primitive style, 
being one of the old-fashioned swing gates. In the progress 
of events this gate was discontinued and a new one built 
and located on the site of the present one, and after years 
of service an improvement was thought necessary on this 
building, and it was purchased by Mr. Levi Shepard, then 
in the height of his business career. The present building 
was at that time built, and toll has been received there at 
the rate of from |800 to |1200 a year up to the 1st of 
October, 1872. Mr. Levi Shepard is still living, still quick 
and more sprightly than many of his age, and to him we 
are indebted for the above information." 

Many alterations and changes in the location of the 
original highways were made, some roads or portions of 
Toads were discontinued and new ones laid, others were 
made 'pent roads,' that is, closed to general travel, and 
liability for damages from the town in case of accident 
withdrawn. It has been said often that the plan adopte'd 
in laying the first roads was to go on the highest land pos- 
sible from the top of one hill to the next, avoiding all low 
or wet ground. 

Roys says: "The manner then pursued and approved of 
for making roads was to dig a pass or trench through 
knolls and on the declivities of hills sufficiently wide for 
carts to pass forward, but in general not to pass each other 
but with difficulty. The wet and marshy places which 
crossed their route were filled with round timber laid 
across the road. In some places they were left naked; 
in others the interstices were filled with earth, which 
formed a level for a time above the water and mud. When 
coming to a rock of considerable size they very prudently 
sheered off, and took a circular turn, avoiding it as an un- 
conquerable obstruction. The course of the highways gen- 
erally was over high ground, in order to escape the swamps 
and dense forests which in many places lay directly in their 
way. Later, when the surface was cleared and dry, many 



HISTOKY OF NORFOLK. 339 

alterations were made in their direction, which better ac- 
commodated the inhabitants in every part of the town." 

Some changes and improvements were made from time 
to time in the old turnpike. When it was first opened, the 
hill just east of the Green in this town was very steep, 
but in a few years the grade was made easy by walling up 
the sides and filling in. Since the turnpike was given up 
to the town, this fill has been widened and much improved. 

A short distance west from Pond Hill pond the road 
originally ran straight over the hill, but when after a few 
years it was discovered that ''the bail of a pail is no longer 
when it lies down flat than when it stands up," the road 
was changed, running around the hill as at present, avoid- 
ing the grade. Going around this hill was by Moses Pierce, 
a shrewd old resident of the town, who lived just at that 
point, called "doubling the cape," and that point is still 
known as "the cape." 

At a town meeting November, 1836, the warning mentioned among 
otlier business to be done, "To discontinue the road leading from 
John Heady's west from his house to its intersection with the road 
near Daniel Spaulding's house; also to discontinue the road called 
the Balcom road, mentioned above, from its Intersection with the 
road between Edmund Brown's and Joshua N. Moses' dwelling 
houses to its intersection with the Meekertown road near Asa Burr's 
house. Also to discontinue the road from the forks of the road be- 
yond Benjamin W. Crissey's house to Canaan line. Also to dis- 
continue the cross road leading from the Goshen road to James 
and Hiram Roys' from its intersection with the Goshen road near 
the school-house to its intersection with the new laid road. 

In December, 1843, the 'Meadow road,' as it was called, was by 
vote of the town laid out, 'Beginning near the meadow bridge, so 
called, thence running northerly through Thomas and Solomon 
Curtiss's land to intei'sect the road running from the Grist-mill of 
Augustus Pettibone, Esq., via Solomon Curtiss's dwelling house.' 
The above vote was at a later date rescinded, and in 1845 Auren 
Tibbals and Daniel White brought suit to compel the town to open 
a road, 'running from near the old Treat place, and terminating 
near tlie Grist-mill.' Not long after the last date mentioned that 
- road was opened and built, but not without considerable opposi- 
tion. 

At the annual town-meeting, October, 1854, the selectmen were 



340 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

instructed "to proceed forthwith to survey the most feasible route 
for a road commencing near the Grist-mill of Messrs. Ryans, and 
running thence parallel with the Blackberry river, on the south 
side, to connect with the turnpike at a point near the works of the 
Dewell Scythe Co., and report." At an adjourned meeting it was 
"resolved that the proposed road on Blackberry River be located 
so as to intersect with the turnpike near Stevens' Hoe Shop, and 
that we accept of Mr. Dewell's road as already laid out as a public 
highway." The project of building this road on the south side 
of the stream was pushed for considerable time, but the matter 
was finally dropped. At that time there was a good deal of manu- 
facturing being carried on along the stream, and building-lots were 
in demand. 

In 1856 quite an effort was made by a few persons living in the " 
northeast part of the town to have one of the original roads re- 
opened and made passable for travel, but that project failed. This 
road intersected with the Beech Flats, or Old Colony road, at the 
old Humphrey place, later the Lemuel Bigelow and Sullivan But- 
ler place, now the C. J. Cole summer residence, and ran about 
two and three quarter miles in a north easterly direction, with va- 
rious turns and angles "to the old school-house corner," as it was 
called in the Loon meadow district. This old road in different parts 
was sometimes called the "Flurida Road," "Hart's Road," and more 
recently the eastern portion of it, the "Tucker Road." 

Brief mention will be made of some action of the town respecting 
highways, at various times. In April, 1818, "an alteration in the 
highway passing by Barzel Treat's was accepted by the town." 
This was a short section of the Canaan mountain road, which ran 
from the Curtiss place nearly in a straight line east to Treat's 
corner, instead of circling around to the north as at present, to 
avoid the hill. 

January, 1820. "Voted to accept the doings of the Selectmen, 
discontinuing the old road from Oliver Hotchkiss's to Canaan line 
and laying out a new one from Israel Crissey's to Canaan line." 
At that time Oliver Hotchkiss lived about half a mile west of Israel 
Crissey's, on the old road, at a place which was known afterward 
as "Snyderville." The new road then laid is the road as at pres- 
ent, leading to Canaan mountain. 

In the records of June, 1824, is an entry that Michael F. Mills 
brought suit against the town concerning a new contemplated road 
from the meeting-house to the North Middle School-house. This 
is the road running from the Hillhurst, which was Esq. Mills' old 
home, to the old school-house on the "North green," as it was called, 
which is mentioned elsewhere. This shows approximately the date 
of the opening of that road. It was called 'the new road' until 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 341 

about 18i0.. Earlier than that date several families named Holt 
lived in the neighbohood north-east from the 'north green,' and it 
has been said that a son of one of the Holts had been jilted by a 
young lady living on the road to tovrn, and could not bear to pass 
her house any more, hence the project of the new road to soothe 
the lacerated feelings of the young man. 

January 13, 1823, the town voted, 'to accept the doings of the 
selectmen, in laying out a highway commencing near Ebenezer 
and Silas Burr's, as appears on the records of this town.' The 
Burr home of that day, and for nearly half a century later, was 
the farm now owned and occupied by Mr. Amos R. Collar, and 
the highway then laid out was that running from near the Burr 
house northeast to 'Treat corner,' near 'the sandbank,' where it 
joined the Canaan mountain road, passing the Daniel White farm, 
now the summer residence of Mr. C. M. Howard, and the Elmore 
E. Canfield farm, now the summer residence of Professor M. I. 
Pupin. 

November, 1833, 'Voted to discontinue the Chestnut Hill road, 
and also the road which formerly passed by Capt. Timothy Gay- 
lord's, to the north corner of land formerly owned by D. W. Roys.' 

April, 1854, 'Approved the doings of the selectmen, discontinuing 
the highway from near the farm house of B. W. Crissey to Snyder- 
ville, so called.' 

November, 1846, 'Voted to discontinue the Ducher road, northerly 
of Benjamin Bigelow's, and that it be made a pent road, without 
expense to the town.' 

The writer has been informed by one of the patriarchs 
of the town that this old Ducher road branched ofif from 
the old Winchester road, on the north side of Gaylord 
Hill, east of the Capt. Benjamin Bigelow place, and by a 
circuitous route joined the present Winchester road not far 
from the former residence of Stephen Harlow Brown. 

A RAILKOAD OVER NORFOLK HILLS. 

When the project of building a railroad through Norfolk 
was first agitated, in the 60's, a wealthy business man of 
New York, a native of the town, upon being told of the 
project, replied: ''Build a railroad through Norfolk! Why, 
when I was a boy and lived there it was with difficulty that 
even the crows could fly over the Norfolk hills." 

To Mr. Egbert T. Butler, now living, quite hale and 



342 HISTOEY OF NOEFOI.JL 

hearty, nearing his 87th birthday, is due the credit of 
originating the idea of a railroad through the town; and 
to his perseverance, to a large measure, the successful com- 
pleting of the road. Mr. Butler says: "About the year 
1864 I became impressed with the idea that a railroad 
through Norfolk was the only thing that could prevent its 
becoming practically an abandoned town, like many of the 
New England hill towns. I first conceived the idea of con- 
necting the Canal Railroad with the Housatonic by a line 
from Collinsville through New Hartford, Winsted and Nor- 
folk, striking the Housatonic at Canaan. 

I wrote some articles which were published in the 
Winsted Herald, stating some of the advantages that 
would be derived from such a railroad. Nearly every one 
scouted at the idea; some thought me crazy, and said if I 
had anybody to care for me they should place me in the 
insane asylum. My ideas expanded until I conceived the 
plan of having a road from Springfield and Hartford to 
Millerton, where it would join the Harlem road, and give 
an outlet west by both the Housatonic and the Harlem 
roads, and bring the terminal at Millerton, so near three 
important points on the Hudson river, viz.: Kingston, 
where the Delaware and Hudson Canal Co. deliver their 
coal for New England; Poughkeepsie, that by a short rail- 
road could reach New England; and Fishkill and Newberg, 
where the Erie railroad enters. These points were in fact 
all connected with this New England road by short roads, 
built within two years after its completion. When I ap- 
plied to some of the wealthy citizens of Winsted and Hart- 
ford for four or five hundred dollars to pay for the pre- 
liminary survey and map that were necessary, not an in- 
dividual would give a dollar for so ridiculous and impos- 
sible an undertaking. 

''But by persistent effort the money was raised, a survey 
was made, a charter was drawn which by its provisions 
allowed the towns through which the road should pass to 
take five per cent, of their grand list in stock to help build 
the road, this being the first charter ever drawn in Con- 
necticut asking such a privilege. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK, 343 

The incoi'ijorators named were E. Grove Lawrence, Na- 
thaniel B. Stevens, William W. Welch and Egbert T. Butler 
of Norfolk, Alexander H. Holley, William H. Barnum of 
Salisbury, William G. Coe, William L. Gilbert, John T. 
Rockwell, Theron Bronson of Wlnsted, and others. 

The charter was approved June 25, 18G8. Soon after, the 
company w^as formed, directors chosen and engineers set to 
work to survey the line through the towns named in the 
charter. I christened it The Connecticut Western Railroad. 

A subscription of Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand 
Dollars was subsequently made in Hartford for the stock, 
which with other subscriptions aided in building the road. 
Contracts for building the road were let, and I had the 
great satisfaction of breaking ground in Winsted and 
shovelling the first dirt for the construction of the road, 
October 20th, 1869, and the greater satisfaction of spiking 
the last rail, December 7th, 1871. On the 21st of December, 
1871, which was my fifty-eighth birthday, the first train of 
cai*s was run over the road on schedule time." 

Norfolk has the distinction of being the highest point 
in the state reached by a railroad, the station being 1250 
feet above tide water. The summit of the road is a mile or 
more south of the centre station. Just where the best line 
was for the road through the town proved a somewhat 
difiicult question, the great problem being to get over the 
Norfolk hills. Coming east from Canaan, a very low point 
was reached in the east part of that town, at the crossing 
of Whiting River, and after various routes had been ex- 
amined and surveyed the one adopted seemed the most 
feasible, requiring a massive arched bridge at W^hiting 
River, and a second massive arch for a passageway for 
teams under the fill at that point, which fill was 140 feet 
high. 

East from Whiting fill the railroad by a steep grade 
skirts along the precipitous side of 'Ragged Mountain,' on 
and up through 'Stoney Lonesome,' where ordinary laymen 
would say a railroad can never be built; then winding 
around upon the steep hillsides between Bald Mountain 



344 HISTOKY OF NORFOLK. 

and Haystack, all the way rising at a pretty sharp grade, 
the center of the town and the old meeting-house green 
was reached. Just where to locate the road for the next 
eighth of a mile caused a sharp controversy among Norfolk 
people, but fortunately the matter was settled right, thanks 
to the wisdom, foresight and determination of one noble 
man. 

This struggle for a time was a pretty severe one. I will 
quote what one writer, who appears to state the question 
fairly and briefly, said in 1876: 

"The surveyors insisted that the railroad must run di- 
rectly through the beautiful little public green, in the heart 
of the town. As the people wanted the road on any terms, 
all assented except the village pastor. Rev. Joseph El- 
d ridge, who for forty years and more occupied the pulpit, 
and won the love, admiration and respect of his people by 
the beauty of his life and character and his sterling in- 
tellectual ability. Dr. Bushnell pronounced him the ablest 
of his compeers in the state. Single-handed and alone Dr. 
Eldridge fought against the proposed lay-out, on the 
ground that it was useless and would wantonly ruin a 
beautiful park that had always been dear to every true- 
born Norfolkite. After many hearings Dr. Eldridge won 
the fight, and the railroad speedily demonstrated that he 
was in the right by taking another route more convenient 
to all concerned. 

Now it is impossible to find any one who ever favored 
any other location." 

The above writer was not wholly correct in saying that 
"all assented except the village pastor." There were a few 
who felt just as Dr. Eldridge felt, among them being Rob- 
bins Battell and a few still living who rendered him every 
possible assistance, but without Dr. Eldridge their efforts 
would doubtless have been of no avail. 

The first lay-out took a width of six rods through the 
center of the park and was rejected by the R. R. Commis- 
sioners. Then the second and third, on the same line 
nearly, narrowed down to a width of three rods, was vig- 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 345 

orously pushed. These lay-outs would have taken down the 
Soldiers' Monument, many of the finest of the trees, and 
made a cut IS to 20 feet deep through the park, coming 
about to the surface in Dr. Eldridge's garden, as it was 
then. 

And yet a most zealous advocate of this line for the rail- 
road through the park, in an article published at the time 
in a local paper, said: 

"But two out of 256 voters of this town appear to oppose the line 
through the Green. A petition signed by 204 of 256 voters of this 
town reads as follows: 'We the undersigned, voters and tax-payers 
of the town of Norfolk, being desirous of promoting the best in- 
terests of the town in the location of the Railroad through said 
town, and fully believing that the business interests, the protec- 
tion to private property, the safety to public travel, and proper 
depot facilities, require that the road be laid out and located on 
the line through the public Green in said town, do earnestly desire 
and respectfully request the Hon. General Railroad Commissioners 
of the State of Connecticut to adopt the line asked for by the 
Officers of the Connecticut Western Railroad.' This petition was 
presented to the Railroad Commissioners, and a large number of 
citizens who did not sign this petition were present at the hearing, 
and advocated the location through the Green, and but two indi- 
viduals in town appeared to oppose it." 

At this hearing before the Railroad Commissioners in 
January, 1870, Dr. Eldridge in part said: 

"In opposing this lay-out across the Green, if I know my own 
heart, I am not prompted by any desire to carry a point simply for 
the sake of carrying it. I deeply regret the necessity of opposing 
the views of so many of my fellow citizens, with all of whom I 
have the most friendly relations. I do it because, In my judgment, 
I am required to, in order to promote their real and permanent in- 
terests. 

The petition addressed to you, gentlemen, and numerously signed 
by citizens of Norfolk, astonishes me. Had I been informed that 
a petition In reference to the lay-out across the Green had been 
drawn up and signed, and had I been ignorant of its character, 
and been left to conjecture what it entreated you to do, I should 
have concluded it would run somewhat in this strain: "We, the 
subscribers, citizens and tax-payers of Norfolk, strong friends of 
the Connecticut Western Railroad, having bonded the town in its 



346 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

support to the full extent allowed by the law, and expecting to 
derive much benefit from it, ask your honors, if possible, to spare 
our little Green. It was laid out and planted by our ancestors, 
and has become quite beautiful, and forms a pleasant center. It 
attracts the attention and excites the admiration of visitors, and 
we should deplore anything that should disfigure or mar it." Such 
is the petition that I should have naturally expected from the citi- 
zens of Norfolk, had I been left to conjecture its character. That 
actually presented is the very opposite. The question which you 
are here to decide, whether there is any imperative necessity to 
cross the Green in order to have a good, practicable road, this 
petition assumes as already settled, and you are besought to sanction 
the lay-out across the Green. I confess this amazes me. Do any 
of these petitioners desire the mutilation of our Green if there is 
no necessity for it? I will impute no such desire to any of the 
signers of this petition. On reflection I can account for its existence 
in consistency, only with the idea that its signers would in itself 
considered, regret the marring of the Green. 

The impression was made after the first lay-out was rejected, 
that the Railroad must cross the Green if we were to have the road 
at all. It was a common remark in town. The actual working 
upon the railroad dissipated that Impression. A railroad we should 
have at any rate. Then the alternative was, that It must cross 
the Green or the station would be three quarters of a mile from the 
Center. That alternative was urged upon persons to induce them 
to sign this petition, and many signed it under the belief that the 
lay-out across the Green must be adopted, or the depot would be 
so located as to be very inconvenient for many parts of the town. 

Another consideration was urged. It has a very plausible look 
when first presented. The town of Norfolk is a stockholder to a 
large amount in the Railroad, and as such is interested to have 
as good a road as possible. Anything that increases the value of 
the road, enhances the value of the property possessed by the town 
in it. The line across the Green would incTease the value of the 
railroad as a whole, and the town would share in this gain. The 
whole town is thus interested to have the line across the Green 
adopted, while the Green is comparatively a local interest, and 
as such, must yield to what the general good demands. This is 
the argument, fairly stated, and as I said just now, it has an air 
of plausibility. Let us examine it a little more closely and see 
how much there is of it. 

The Connecticut Western Railroad when ready for business, will 
have cost it is estimated about Three Millions of Dollars. The 
town of Norfolk is a stockholder to between forty and fifty thou- 
sand dollars. We will for the sake of the argument put it at fifty 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 347 

thousand dollars; that is, the town of Norfolk will own one sixtieth 
of the Railroad, and will of course share in any benefit that the 
Railroad may derive from crossing the Green in that proportion. 
Suppose then the C. W. R. R. would be benefitted twenty thousand 
dollars by crossing the Green, what is the amount of the share 
of the town in that benefit? Why, three hundred and thirty-three 
dollars, thirty-three and a third cents. Suppose the advantage 
to the Railroad would be forty thousand, then the share of the 
town of Norfolk in advantage resulting from spoiling the Green 
would be six hundred and sixty-six dollars, sixty-six and two-thirds 
of a cent. We are very much in need of a new hearse; by sacri- 
ficing our Green the increased value of the Railroad might enable 
us to buy one. But alas! no man of sense imagines that the Rail- 
road would be increased in value forty, or twenty, or even ten 
thousand dollars by crossing our little Green. The town of Nor- 
folk, as a stockholder, has no motive to sacrifice the Green. 

In the next place has the town or the public, looking to the C. W. 
R. R. as a carrying agent, any appreciable interest in having it 
cross the Green? I answer no; and ask your attention while I 
prove what I say. What does this town or the public want in 
a Railroad as an agent of transportation? These three things,— 
speed, cheapness, and safety. Now does anybody imagine that in 
arranging the time-tables over this Railroad, any difference will 
be made whether it crosses the Green or goes around it? 

Then again, in fixing the fares for passengers, or the rates for 
freight, will those who operate the road make any difference in 
the prices, whether it crosses the Green or not? Mr. Barnum, 
President of the Railroad, in a conversation I had with him, ad- 
mitted that the idea that it would make any difference was non- 
sensical. 

The only remaining point is the safety. The curve around is an 
eight degree curve. Now I have examined your Report, Gentlemen 
Commissioners, in which you question the Railroads of the State 
in regard to their curves, and I find that every Railroad in the 
State that has responded to the inquiry, has on its main ti'ack 
curves as sharp; many have curves sharper than that around our 
Green. Mr. Alfred Dennis, President of the New Jersey Rail- 
way, informed me that on that Railroad, a short distance from 
the station, there is a curve sharper by one-half than that required 
to avoid the Green. More than one hundred trains pass over that 
road every twenty-four hours. The road has been in operation over 
thirty years, and no accident has occurred near that curve. Now 
this notion of danger is a mere bug-bear. . . . 

Why, then, should the Railroad cross the Green? Above all, why 
should any citizen of Norfolk desire it? 



348 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

It is a matter that I cannot explain. But I can understand wliy 
the Directors desire it. Tlie road across the Green would cost the 
company somewhat less, and being nearer straight, would as a 
piece of engineering be more perfect. We can have a good prac- 
ticable road around the green with the station where it ought to be, 
but it will cost the Railroad more. They propose to take the route 
across the Green without paying anybody anything for the right 
of way, so that we come to the real question to be decided by you. 
Gentlemen, on this occasion. 

It is, whether this great money corporation, armed with almost 
despotic power, whose object is pecuniary gain, shall be saved, 
what in reference to the magnitude is a trivial additional expendi- 
ture, at a sacrifice to this poor little town of many times the 
amount. That is the question. Now, gentlemen, I must trouble 
you with a few remarks on the value that many of us attach to 
the Green, and the injury that must accrue to the town if it is 
defaced by a railroad track, some eighteen or twenty feet deep, 
and more than fifty wide, running through it from end to end, amid 
clouds of smoke and dust, many times a day. This public Green 
is an heirloom,— an inheritance. It was laid out by our fathers, 
and they planted these grand old elms. It is central to this town. 
The roads all converge to it. 

It is a pleasant gathering place where the people assemble to 
worship God, or for other purposes. The Academy looks out upon 
it, is approached by paths tlirough it. It is a safe pleasant play- 
ground in one part; in the rest, shade and tranquility. It is such 
a Green as no town in this part of the State possesses, or could 
secui'e. It makes the town attractive to strangers. Professor 
Thatcher of Yale College, and Mr. Northrop, Superintendent of 
Common Schools, were here last season, and expressed themselves 
as greatly delighted with it. They said it was already very beau- 
tiful, and might be made much more so. Many natives of the 
place living elsewhere, deprecate the idea of its desecration; among 
them such men as Mr. Frederick Shepard of New York, who has 
taken stock in this road; Mr. Joseph Battell, also of New York; 
and Mr, George Phelps of Chicago. 

The most enlightened people in the towns around would regard 
the sacrifice of our Green as an act of barbarism. The work of 
destruction once done it is done forever. The injury would be 
irremediable. Money lost may be regained; a building burned may 
be rebuilt; but once locate a Railroad across our Green, and it 
would be ruined forever. Other towns would spend large sums 
could they purchase such a Green. We have it by the fore- 
thought, the liberality and the toils of the past generations. They 
designed it for the town, and for coming generations, to be en- 
joyed and transmitted. 



HISTOEY OF NORFOLK. 349 

I now come to considerations that may liave weight with those, 
in whose estimation those that I have already suggested are of 
little importance. 

The Railroad it is hoped will contribute to the prosperity of the 
town. It will do this more particularly, it is expected, by bringing 
into profitable use the water power on our stream. Surely in a 
business respect we have been in a bad way. Most of the busi- 
ness enterprises started in the last twenty-five years have proved 
disastrous failures. A great deal of property has been sunk. Our 
farmers have suffered in some cases very severely. One coming 
from Canaan through West Norfolk up to the Centre, will see many 
signs of abortive undertakings; much proof that the stream has 
not hitherto contributed to our prosperity. First will be seen a 
broken roofed scythe shop, with a scythe perched on a pole. Then 
the chimney of an abandoned furnace with some out-buildings, all 
rotting down, will attract his notice. Then on Patmos Island, 
as it is called, a hoe-shop, not now in use. Next comes the great 
stone structure erected as a machine shop. This building is occu- 
pied, but not to its full capacity. Adjacent is the foundry, going 
to decay, and then a planing-shop in like condition. Arrived in the 
city, the traveler is greeted with the charred ruins of the great 
factory that once stood there. Looming up the hill, a nice bank 
building presents itself. Alas, that building is for sale. Now if 
the prayer addressed to you this day is granted, and our Green 
has a deep, broad ditch cut through it, the picture of ruin will be 
complete. These past disasters have generated in town a sort 
of desperation; something must be done to retrieve our affairs. 
And when the idea of a Railroad through town was proposed, it 
was greeted with the utmost enthusiasm. That would save us. 
That would prove the Sarsaparilla of the veritable old Dr. Towns- 
end; sure to remedy all our pecuniary troubles. I shared in this 
enthusiasm to a degree. I was in favor of bonding the town. I 
took ten shares of the Railroad stock. And I still expect that the 
town will derive essential benefit from the road. But how? Not 
as an investment. I never expect to get any returns for my stock. 
If we have anything to transport it will prove an advantage. But 
a railroad through the town will put no money into anybody's 
pocket. It will not build up factories on our streams It will not 
lift the mortgages now resting on some of the structures already 
built. It will furnish no capital with which to carry on business. 
How then will it contribute to the prosperity of the town? It 
will do so, so far as it induces men of capital and business ca- 
pacity to come and reside among us, who shall bring our water- 
power into profitable use^ But such men are not to be drawn here 
by mere water privileges. They can find them elsewhere, and 
right by the side of Railroads; for example, Falls Village. 



350 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Men of capital and business capacity are likely also to be men 
of taste, with families to be educated, and a beautiful village and 
advantages for schools, where their children may be happy and 
safe, and their taste improved,— such a village in connection with 
water power, may draw them. We have such a village, and now 
have such an Academy. Drive your cars right through its heart, 
right in front of the Academy, cut down the town to a railroad 
station, and you will look in vain for your men of capital and 
business capacity. Spoil your Green, and you weaken very much 
the probability that the railroad will bring our water power into 
profitable use; or that it will greatly benefit the town. In this 
view, the railroad itself will be short sighted to insist on this line; 
for whatever tends to mar or hinder our prosperity, will diminish 
the revenue we shall yield to it as a transporting agent. 

Now, your Honors, you are appointed, not to carry out the edicts 
of these great corporations. Invested as they are by naked legisla- 
tion with almost unlimited power, and which they are very liable 
to abuse, overriding the weak resistance of local and private in- 
terests. You are appointed to protect local and private rights and 
interests against unnecessary encroachments. If there are sacri- 
fices to be made, you are to distribute them equitably and fairly. 
You are not to save a railroad some little expense and inflict a 
much larger injury upon an individual or a town. In our case 
it will be wholly uncompensated. They propose to take our Green 
for nothing. I appeal to you to protect us. Indeed, I believe in 
their secret heart we have the Directors with us. The President 
of the road and his co-directors I regard as men of liberal feelings 
and cultivated tastes. As agents of the railroad they must push 
its interests; but if without responsibility on their pai-t, this lay- 
out should be rejected, and the little Green of Norfolk left intact, 
I do not think they would be very much grieved. 

Thanks that we have not as yet to deal with such men as .James 
Fisk, Jr., and his acolytes. I leave our case in your hands. I have 
only to add, that, if as would seem to be the case by the tone of 
feeling developed in this assembly, any odium is to be attached to 
efforts to protect our green, in that case let it be poured without 
stint on my head while I live; let it rest on my memory after I 
am dead. 

I wash my hands of all responsibility in regard to the desecra- 
tion of our green. If the deed is perpetrated, I shall remain silent, 
but shall ever consider it one of folly and barbarism." 

An effort was made through articles published in the 
local papers to reply to the argument of Dr. Eldridge 
before the Commissioners, but it was a sorry failure. No 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 351 

answer was possible save that of the Commissioners given 
February 9, 1870, which triumphantly vindicated Dr. El- 
dridge's position and forever settled the question of *'the 
desecration of our green." 

In their decision the Commissioners said: "The first hearing 
of the application for the approval of the location through this 
Parli was held at the Norfolk Town Hall in June, 1869. After a 
full and impartial hearing that lay-out was disapproved. 

On the .5th day of July succeeding, a new Commissioner took his 
seat in the Board, and soon after another application was made 
for a location, by the same Railroad Company, through the same 
park, and a second hearing was held at the same place, and the lay- 
out again disapproved by the Board unanimously. Again on the 
14th day of January, 1870, a hearing was given to a third appli- 
cation for a new layout through the same park, and now a third 
time denied unanimously by the Commissioners. The persistency 
with which this line through this Park has been urged, is without 
parallel in the history of Railroad enterprises in the State, and 
seems to indicate insurmountable objections on the part of the 
Company to any other route through that village. 

On the other hand, the unanimous decisions of the Board in dis- 
approval Indicate their belief that another route can be found 
without so great damage to public and private interests, as the 
one asked by the Company through the Park. 

The Railroad Commissioners have no power or desire to dictate 
to a Railroad Company where they shall locate their line, but only 
to say where it shall not be located. 

The reasons why we cannot approve the location of the Connec- 
ticut Western Railroad Company through the village of Norfolk 
as asked, are: 

First: Because the law of the State forbids a railroad crossing 
a highway at gi-ade; and one of the lines asked for, came out of a 
cut eighteen feet deep, upon a level with several converging roads, 
making it a dangerous place for travellers upon the highways, 
and almost ensuring railroad accidents at that place. 

Second. Because gratitude to our noble defenders will not allow 
us to let a railroad run over, or seriously injure a memorial monu- 
ment dedicated to their memory, at the same time striking down 
in its passage trees of a century's growth, necessary to the com- 
fort and enjoyment of the public, and for which money is no 
equivalent,— unless we feel compelled to it by such controlling 
necessity as does not here exist. 

Third. The last line asked for was equally objectionable;— the 
same deep cut, destroying more trees, crossing the highway acutely 



352 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

near the converging roads, and running parallel with the eastern 
highway which surrounds the Park, making it just as dangerous 
for travel in carriages upon the highway as the others. 

Fourth. The objections of the Board to establishing a precedent 
for running a railroad line through any Public Park. These ob- 
jections, which we consider well founded in law and equity, to- 
gether with the fact established by the report of the experienced 
engineer, that there is a practicable line outside the Park, to which 
there is no serious objections, have caused us to disapprove for 
the third time the location asked for by this Corporation." 

And so the question was decided finally, to the great 
joy and satisfaction of Dr. Eldridge and the few who stood 
with him through the contest against the Railroad Com- 
pany, and "204 out of 25(5 legal voters of the town." It 
was not long before the majority saw their mistake, and 
a few went to Dr. Eldridge, acknowledged their mistake 
and thanked him for what he had done in saving the park 
for all time. 

A feasible lay-out around the green, a few rods to the 
east, was at once accepted, and the road went on to com- 
pletion. A "railroad celebration'' was held in the park in 
September, 1871, upon the day that the engines first met, 
before the completion and opening of the road, when a 
general jubilee with speechmaking was indulged in, as 
shown in the following brief report which has been pre- 
served. One of the local papers said: "The citizens of 
Norfolk appreciated the services of Mr. E. T. Butler, and 
at a railroad celebration held in their park September 12, 
1871, he was presented with a superb gold watch and 
chain. On the outside of the watch-case was engraved the 
monogram "E. T. B." and a train of cars, while the inside 
of the case bore the following inscription: 'Presented to 
E. T. Butler, Esq., by the citizens of Norfolk, in recogni- 
tion of his services in the originating and completion of 
the C. W. Railroad.' " 

Looking back almost thirty years, the query arises, did- the re- 
porter fail to record it, or did we all really forget at this celebra- 
tion to thank Dr. Eldridge that the park was spared, and so we 
had that beautiful place in which to hold our celebration? 



HISTOEY OF XORFOLK. 353 

It may be permitted to add briefly that at this railroad 
celebration a. procession was formed in front of the Norfolk 
House; with a company of horsemen and the Lakeville 
Brass Band they marched to the Park amid firing of can- 
non, the ringing of the church bell and the whistle of the 
locomotive. Prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Eldridge. 
John K. Shepard, as chairman, made the opening speech 
of welcome. All partook of the bountiful repast prepared 
by the ladies of the town. After refreshments Dr. Eldridge 
was introduced, and in his remarks paid a high compliment 
to Hon. William H. Baruum as the man to drive through to 
completion, such a gigantic enterprise as the building of a 
railroad over the mountains of Norfolk. He said : "One of 
the benefits of the road to the citizens of this town would 
be to teach them to be punctual; that when they wished 
to take the cars they must remember that 2 o'clock meant 
2 o'clock, and not 2.30," He gave due praise to Mr. Butler 
and others for their persistent labors in pushing the build- 
ing of the road to completion. 

Mr. E. T. Butler then gave a concise history of the start- 
ing the project for a railroad through this town, the diffi- 
culties met in locating and building it, and said that to Mr. 
George H. Brown more than to any other man was Norfolk 
indebted for the road. 

Mr. Brown was next introduced, and spoke of the diffi- 
culties of getting the road started and awakening the in- 
terest of the people on the line of the road. 

Mr. Henry J. Holt then extended to Mr. Butler the 
thanks of the citizens of Norfolk for his great efforts in 
starting the project, locating and building the railroad, 
and in behalf of the citizens of the town presented him 
with a fine gold watch and chain, as has been already 
mentioned, and this watch Mr. Butler still carries with 
laudable pride and pleasure. 



354 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 



XXIII. 

THE WHIPPING POST AND STOCKS — FIRST POST OFFICE — TEMPERANCE 
ORGANIZATIONS — SILK CULTURE — OUR INDIAN STORY — NORFOLK 
BANKS — PRICES CUTIRENT, 1778. 

Several persons are living (1900) who well remember the 
whipping-post and stocks in Norfolk, those indispensable 
pillars of New England law and order; and not of New 
England only, for the state of Delaware to this day has not 
abolished and yet occasionally uses the whipping-post. 
They stood in this town near where the guide-post now 
stands, opposite the old Shepard Hotel, at the N. W. corner 
of the park. 

In the absence of any discovered record or description of 
the institution as it existed and was used here in Norfolk, 
I take the liberty of copying from Boyd's description of the 
one in Winchester, — both having doubtless been built upon 
scientific principles, at nearly the same time, and upon the 
most approved plan. He says: 

"The whipping-post and stocks stood on the green near the meet- 
ing-house. The post did extra duty as a sign post, on which pub- 
lic notices were fastened, and to which, when occasion required, 
the petty thief was tied to receive from the constable his five or 
ten lashes 'well laid on to his naked back.' 

The stocks were an upper and lower plank, say six feet long, 
eight inches wide and two inches tlaick; the lower one lying edge- 
wise near the ground, mortised at one end into the post and firmly 
fastened to the ground at the other. The upper plank was attached 
to the post at one end by a heavy hinge, so that its lower edge 
came in contact with the upper edge of the other, and they were 
held together by a hasp and padlock at their outer ends. At the 
line of junction of the two planlcs were four holes, half in the 
upper and half in the lower plank, about three inches in diameter, 
ranged at suitable distances for receiving the ankles of two cul- 
prits." 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 355 

As proof that this institution was sometimes useful as 
a means of reformation as well as punishment, I will quote 
still further from Mr. Boyd: 

"A well authenticated tradition is handed down of one Meacham, 
a hired laborer of Squire Hurlbut, of very moderate intellect, who 
after a faithful service and inoffensive life of several years, took 
it into his head to run away, and to carry with him a variety of 
articles purloined from his employer's premises. He was pursued, 
brought back, tried on a grand juror's complaint, found guilty and 
sentenced to be publicly whipped at the post. 

The sentence was duly executed on Saturday. On Sunday fol- 
lowing, though not a church member, he attended public service, 
occupying a prominent seat. At the close of service he arose, and 
the minister read to the audience his penitential confession, asking 
pardon of the church and the community, and that he might be 
restored to public confidence. The minister then exhorted the 
people to accept his confession, and to extend to him their sym- 
pathy and encouragement in aid of his reformation. He is said 
to have continued to live with his old employer for several years 
a blameless and exemplary life." 

Query:— Do our- modern penal and reformatory institutions show 
any better results than the above? Regarding the whipping post 
in Norfolk, Mr. E. Lyman Gaylord, a native of Norfolk, now living 
in Rocky Hill in this state, writes: 'T well remember the old whip- 
ping post, and precisely where it stood, and the last person that 
was whipped there; an incorrigible from the north part of the town, 
by the name of J—, for the crime of theft. He had made much 
trouble and had often been sent to jail, which did no good. He 
was finally taken to the whipping post and well dressed down, 
which completely cured him." 

POST-RIDERS AND POST-OFFICE. 

The early postal privileges, privations we should now 
consider them, in this county are of interest. Until the 
year 1793 the nearest post-office was Hartford, and not 
even a post-rider came into this county until 1766, when, 
as appears in Kilbourn's History of Litchfield, "William 
Stanton was a post-rider between Hartford and Litchfield. 
It is supposed he did not go as often as once a week." 

The first post-rider through Norfolk was in 1789, when 
Jehiel Saxton, a post-rider between New Haven and Len- 
nox, passed through this town, doubtless at stated inter- 



356 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

vals, it is said; what the intervals were is not stated. In 
1790, Kilbourn says, 'a primitive letter carrier commenced 
his long and lonely ride over the hills between Litchtield 
court house and New York, leaving each place once a fort- 
night. That was a proud day for Litchfield. 

A post-office was established in Litchfield March 20, 1793, 
and Benjamin Tallmadge appointed postmaster. In the 
Litchfield Monitor, March 28, 1794, Ebenezer Burr of Nor- 
folk advertised himself as a "post-rider from Litchfield, 
through Goshen, Norfolk and Canaan to Salisbury, and 
solicits patronage as such; but requests all who need his 
services as county surveyor to call upon Mondays and 
Tuesdays, as he shall be away the rest of the week.'' 

A post-office was established in Norfolk in 1801, during 
the administration of President Jefferson, Michael F. Mills, 
Esq., being appointed postmaster. The office was kept first 
at the house of Esq. Mills, who then lived in the Ariel 
Lawrence tavern, on the corner opposite the Dr. Welch 
house. A small table drawer, or bureau drawer, was all 
the room needed for the outgoing and incoming mail of 
that day. The "Connecticut Courant" and the "Litchfield 
Monitor" were the onh^ newspapers taken in the town, 
and but few copies of them. These facts were told the 
writer in July, 1900, by Mrs. Sarah Mills-Shepard, daughter 
of the first postmaster of the town. 

Mr. Joseph Jones was postmaster for a number of years, 
holding that office in about 1815, and quite possibly some 
years earlier. He lived and kept the post-office at his house, 
adjoining the present parsonage, being at the same time 
Town Clerk. The question of the location of the post- 
office was one that interested the residents of the town for 
many years, and was something of a bone of contention 
between the rival villages, on the Green, and in "the City," 
each location maintaining that "our" part of the town was 
entitled to the post-office; and so it went back and forth, 
down the hill and up the hill, many times. It was kept 
in the Shepard Hotel for several years, then went down 
the hill to the store of Lawrence and Swift, and later Law- 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 357 

rence and Stevens; then np to the Shepard Hotel again, 
and for a time, about 1852, in the store built by William 
Lawrence, Myron H. Mills being then the postmaster. After 
the old Battell store was abandoned as a store, the post- 
office was at different times kept in that building, by Giles 
P, Thompson and Aaron Gilbert, when they respectively 
were Norfolk's U. S. officials. 

About 1855, under the administration of President 
Pierce, Mr. Aaron Gilbert being the postmaster, the ques- 
tion of location was by him disposed of in a way that 
proved quite satisfactory, on the national plan of compro- 
mise between the Xorth and the South, when he erected 
between the two rival sections of the 'State of Norfolk,' 
sometimes then so called, an octagonal building that ac- 
commodated his own business as a tailor, with room for the 
post-office, the building being located nearly opposite the 
present Village Hall. Here the ark of the post-office rested 
in peace during the Buchanan administration, and until 
some months after the inauguration of President Lincoln, 
March, 1861, when the office was moved again into the 
old store, Giles P. Thompson having been appointed post- 
master, and here it rested some eight years. 

The Greenwoods turnpike was opened and a line of stages 
run upon it from Hartford to Albany, beginning not later 
than the year 1800, and that probably became a post route 
quite early in the century. 

In the winter of 1812 and '13 a stage commenced running 
weekly from New Haven, passing through this town on its 
way to Albany, but first carried the mail once a week in 
1816, increasing to two or three times a week about 1820. 

In 1821, in connection with a daily steamboat from New 
York to New Haven, a four-horse stage line commenced 
running daily from New Haven across this state, passing 
through this town on its way to Albany, sometimes requir- 
ing extra stages to accommodate the passengers from New 
York city and vicinity en route to Albany to attend the 
winter sessions of the Legislature there. The idea that a 
great route of travel between New Y^ork city and Albany 



358 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

once passed through this town will be new to some, — seem 
preposterous to others. 

Let us see. This was many years before the day of rail- 
roads. Men livino; in New York city and vicinity, elected to 
the Legislature of that state, must reach Albany soon after 
January 1st, at which time the Hudson river would almost 
invariably be closed, making necessary a drive of 150 miles, 
or a little more. Long Island Sound remained open, and 
the steamboat to New Haven would land them within 
about 100 miles of Albany, saving them about one full day's 
drive overland, which, with the mercury say at about zero, 
was a consideration, and sent the law-makers and others 
of the Empire State en route to Albany by way of Norfolk 
as the shorter overland route. 

The contrast between the post-office facilities and the 
facilities for travel between the early days mentioned 
above and this year, 1900, seems marvellous. The writer 
recalls that in about 1846, soon after trains commenced 
running as far north as Canaan, upon the Housatonic rail- 
road, he heard a prominent Norfolk man relating the cir- 
cumstances of a very wonderfully rapid trijj he had just 
made to New York, stating that he ate his breakfast at 
home in Norfolk, drove to Canaan and took the car for 
Bridgeport; there took another train that landed him in 
New York so that he ate his supper in New York. This 
seemed very rapid travelling then, to one accustomed to 
a day's drive to Hudson or Hartford, and then another 
day's travel by water to reach New York. At the present 
time a Norfolk man can have breakfast leisurely with his 
family at home, take a train at about eight o'clock, reach 
New York at eleven-thirty, have four hours in that city, 
take his train at three-thirty, and reach Norfolk in time to 
hear the chimes and the clock strike seven, all between 
sunrise and sunset. 

TEMPERANCE ORGANIZATIONS. 

In the early days of the agitation of the temperance 
question, as all along the years since, there have been 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 359 

earnest advocates of and workers in this cause. In 1829, 
in this town, a branch of the "Litchfield Count}' Tem- 
perance Society," auxiliary to the State Society, was organ- 
ized, and carried on an active, aggressive work for several 
years. This was in the early days of the total abstinence 
movement and of the agitation of the temperance question; 
and not very long after Dr. Lyman Beecher, then of Litch- 
field, preached and published his "^six sermons on the na- 
ture, occasions, signs, evils and remedy of Intemperance." 
and which book in a little more than a year from May, 1827, 
reached its fifth edition. His answer to the question, 
^*What, then, is this universal, natural and national remedy 
for intemperance?" was, "It is the banishment of ardent 
spirits from the list of lawful articles of commerce, by a 
correct and efficient public sentiment, such as has turned 
slavery out of half our land, and will yet expel it from the 
world." The "pledge," which was signed by the pastor, the 
deacons and other prominent men in this town, "in 1831 
had received 340 signatures, — 141 men, 136 women and 60 
juveniles." 

The pledge was as follows: "We will abstain from the 
use of distilled spirits, except as a medicine in case of 
bodily hurt or sickness; and we will not allow the use of 
them in our families, nor provide them for the entertain- 
ment of our friends, or for persons in our employment; and 
in all suitable ways we will discountenance the use of them 
in the community." 

Up to the time of this temperance movement the use of 
strong drink in every family, and probably by almost every 
individual, was the almost universal rule. When making 
his pastoral calls the minister expected the "decanter of 
rum" to be set before him, and not to do this would have 
been considered discourteous. In later years, about 1850, 
there was for a time a flourishing organization of "Sons of 
Temperance" here. In about 1875 the "Murphy Blue-rib- 
bon movement" had here a brief run, when a great number 
"put on the blue ribbon," and in a short time took it off 
again. 



360 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

The following is from the Town Records, and shows the 
carrying out of a state law that doubtless had but a brief 
existence, as there is no record of its having been com- 
plied with but one year. 

"October 6, 1845. 

"The town being required by law to appoint three Commissioners 
to regulate the sale of wines and spirituous liquors, they appointed 
by ballot Philo Smith, Harry M. Grant, and Darius Camp, to act in 
that capacity for the ensuing year." 

These special Commis.sioners "having approved of Amos Petti- 
bone to be a retailer of wines and spirituous liquors in Norfolk, 
subject to the laws recently enacted in this state, hereby give him 
license to commence and continue said sales, re.stricted to Medical 
and Mechanical uses only." 

. Amos Pettibone refused to accept the appointment, ajid 
later the Commissioners appointed E. Grove Lawrence &, 
Co., William Lawrence and James C. Swift to be retailers 
of wines and spirituous liquors. They were required to 
keep a correct register of the names of the persons sold to, 
and the quantity and kind sold him at the time. 

This law was perhaps repealed at the next session of the 
Legislature, or became a dead letter. License, fifty-five 
years ago, did not solve the problem. It has not yet done 
it, and never can do it. Licensing a wrong then could not 
make it right. ''You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's 
ear." 

At a time when there was no active temperance organi- 
zation here, Dr. Eldridge secured John B. Gough, then in 
the early years of his fame and wonderful work, to come 
and deliver a lecture in the church, which he did in the 
winter of 1853. A few years later, in a temperance sermon 
preached one Sunday afternoon, Dr. Eldridge gave, as an 
illustration of the necessity of having our example wholly 
right at all times, a bit of personal experience, and a lesson, 
as he said, which he himself had received; and although 
he was the victim of shrewd Irish wit, he appreciated the 
situation, and enjoyed it afterward fully. He said he had 
been annoyed by finding his man, Patrick, at times a little 
exhilarated, and unusually and unduly suave and polite, 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 361 

and oue day took the opportunity to reprove Pat mildly, 
telling him of the danger of touching strong drink in the 
least, and that total abstinence was the only safe course for 
every one. Pat listened most intently and politely, and 
when the Dr. ceased speaking Pat said, Yes, but I notice 
your reverence has his barrel of cider in the cellar, and 
takes a glass now and again! Dr. Eldridge said, I have 
that at the recommendation of the physician, and when 
I have a little bilious difficulty in the spring he orders me 
to take a glass of cider with my dinner. Pat was ready, 
and said, "Indeed, your reverence, its right; ye'er very 
right, and the doctor is right; a glass of cider does ye good; 
a drop of whiskey does me better." 

In the early '70s there was a most flourishing Good Tem- 
plars organization in the town, which did most excellent 
work in driving the saloons and liquor dealers out of town. 
In August, 1876, a correspondent of the Springfield Re- 
publican wrote as follows, the main facts of which article 
are said to be correct: 

"Nearly all the young p€K)ple in town belonged to the 
Good Templars, and all other means having failed, they de- 
termined to stop the sale of liquor at the Village Drug 
Store by seizing the liquor under the Maine Law. Having 
legally accomplished this, and stored the casks and hogs- 
heads in a cellar, apprehension was felt lest by some legal 
dodge it would be recovered. Hence at a full meeting of 
the order it was voted to carry the liquor over the state 
line into Massachusetts, a few miles distant, and there to 
destroy it. So on a bright moonlight night the young 
people assembled at the rendezvous, loaded the casks 
into a big four-horse wagon, and a procession of car- 
riages with banners followed, starting off with song and 
cheers. All along the route people turned out and har- 
nessing up, in hot haste followed the procession into Mas- 
sachusetts. The druggist had by this time got wind of the 
proceedings, and hastened in such rapid pursuit that the 
Good Templars dared not stop to recover one cask that, 
falling from the wagon rolled down a hill. Arriving in 



362 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Massachusetts the casks were unloaded, their heads 
knocked in, and a circle formed about the stream of liquor 
that flowed away, while "Sparkling and Bright" was sung 
to a merry tune, and general jollity undulged in. Next day 
legal process was served on the whole party, and the re- 
sult of a series of lawsuits was that it cost the Good Tem- 
plars |880, and eventually put an end to the order in Nor- 
folk." 

In his Centennial address at Litchfield in 1851, Judge 
Church, in speaking of the temperance reformation, said: 
"Many years before the modern movement was suggested, 
such a project was conceived in this town, Litchfield, and 
encouraged by the most prominent men here. A Temper- 
ance Pledge was signed in May, 1789, repudiating the use 
of distilled liquors, by 36 gentlemen, men well known and 
remembered here. The results of this grand effort have 
been as successful here as elsewhere. If any special cause 
has operated to retard the final success of this charity, it 
has been the strangling, death-ensuring embrace of party 
politicians, — the scathing curse of many a good thing. As 
long ago as 1816 there were distilleries in every town in 
the county, and in New Milford as many as 26, and in the 
whole county 169; and besides these, there were 188 re- 
tailers of spirits, who paid licenses under the excise laws 
of the United States, to the amount of |3,760 Whether 
there be a distillery now in the county I am not informed; 
I believe but very few." It is to be hoped that equally 
good progress has been made during the last fifty years 
of the century. 

CULTUKE OF SILK. 

Probably but few persons now living, (there are a few,) 
ever knew or heard that the culture of silk had at any time 
received any attention in Norfolk. Anyone who will take 
Vol. 14 of the "New American Cyclopaedia," at page 6.51 
may read: "In Connecticut the culture of silk was under- 
taken at an early period, and was encouraged by the home 
government, as in the other colonies. In 1790 about fifty 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 363 

families in New Haven were engajjed in the business, and 
in Norfolk about tliirtj^ families raised and spun '1200 run 
of silk.' " For how long a period any attention was given 
in this town to this industry the writer has been unable to 
learn. Mr. Obadiah Smith, now nearly eighty years of 
age, living near Grantville, well remembers that about 1830 
his father, Mr. Philo Smith, raised mulberry trees from 
the seed, and his not too willing son had as part of his 
daily task to cultivate the young trees, help pick the leaves 
which were fed to the silk-worms, (a great worm as large 
as a man's thumb, which they handled as readily as Nor- 
folk's trout fisherman now handles angle-worms), and these 
made the silk cocoons, from which the silk was reeled, etc. 
Other Norfolk men who at about the same time engaged 
in silk culture with more or less success, were Mr. Stephen 
Tibbals, then living near the present residence of Mr. H. H. 
Bridgman, and Dea. Darius Phelps, then living in the house 
which is now Dea. Ralph I. Crissey's residence; and prob- 
ably there were others. 

OUR INDIAN STORY. 

So far as the writer has been able to ascertain from 
record or tradition, this town was never famous as the 
camping-ground, hunting-ground, or burial-ground of any 
of the Indian tribes that in the early Colonial days were 
found, especially in Woodbury, in the south part of the 
county, and along the course of the Housatonic River. The 
"great wigwam" of the Housatonic Indians was on the site 
of the town of Great Barrington. From the blood curdling 
stories, such as the killing of poor defenseless women and 
children, in Gt. Barrington, Stockbridge and many other 
towns, we are happily spared. The finding of a few Indian 
implements of stone, a few arrow heads, etc., in the vicinity 
of some of our ponds, is evidence that the Indians pursued 
their avocation of fishing and hunting at times in this town. 
The one story to have a place in this volume is of a good 
Indian. That "the only good Indian is a dead one," let this 
disprove. While all may not acknowledge that the first 



364 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

part of the story is really good, most may be led to say it 
is not bad. The narrative is from ''Travels in New England 
and New York," by President Timothy Dwight of Yale Col- 
lege, and the location was Litchfield County The writer 
is convinced from internal evidence that this good Indian 
had that day, fished, hunted, travelled and was acquainted 
in Norfolk; hence this insertion. Dr. Dwight, with char- 
acteristic caution remarks, "this story may be circumstan- 
tially erroneous; in substance I believe it to be true." 

''Not many years after the county of Litchfield began to 
be settled by the English, a strange Indian came one day 
into an Inn in the town of Litchfield in the dusk of evening, 
and requested the hostess to furnish him with some drink 
and supper. At the same time he observed that he could 
pay for neither, as he had had no success in hunting, but 
promised payment as soon as he should meet with better 
fortune. The hostess refused him both the drink and the 
supper; called him a lazy, drunken, good-for-nothing fel- 
low, and told him that she did not work so hard herself, 
to throw away her earnings upon such creatures as he was. 

A man who sat by and observed that the Indian, then 
turning about to leave so inhospitable a place, showed by 
his countenance that he was sufi:'ering very severely from 
want and weariness, directed the hostess to supply him 
what he wished, and engaged to pay the bill himself. She 
did so. When the Indian had finished his supper he turned 
to his benefactor, thanked him, and assured him that he 
should remember his kindness, and whenever he was able 
would faithfully recompense it. For the present he ob- 
served he could only reward him with a story, which if the 
hostess would give him leave, he wished to tell. The hos- 
tess, whose complacency had been recalled by the prospect 
of payment, consented. 

The Indian addressing himself to his benefactor, said: 
"I suppose you read Bible?" The man assented. "Well," 
said the Indian, "Bible say, God made the world, then he 
took him and looked on him and say, 'It's all very good.' 
Then he made light, and took him and looked on him and 



HISTORY OF NOEFOLK. 365 

say, 'It's all very good.' Then he made dry land aud water, 
and sun and moon and grass aud trees, and took him and 
looked on him and say, 'It's all very good.' Then he made 
beasts and birds and fishes, and took him and looked on 
him and say, 'It's all very good.' Then he made man, and 
took him and looked on him and say, 'It's all very good.' 
Then he made woman, and took him and looked on him, — 
and he no dare say one such word." The Indian, having 
told his story, withdrew. 

Some years after, the man who had befriended him had 
occasion to go some distance into the wilderness between 
Litchfield, then a frontier settlement, and Albany, where 
he was taken prisoner by an Indian scout and carried to 
Canada. When he arrived at the principal settlement of 
the tribe, on the southern border of the St. Lawrence, it 
was proposed by some of the captors that he should be put 
to death. During the consultation an old Indian woman 
demanded that he should be given up to her, that she 
might adopt him in the place of a son whom she had lost in 
the war. He was accordingly given to her and lived 
through the succeeding winter in her family, experiencing 
the customary effects of savage hospitality. The following 
summer as he was at work in the forest alone, an unknown 
Indian came up to him and asked him to meet him at a 
place which he pointed out, on a given day. The prisoner 
agreed to the proposal, but not without some apprehensions 
that mischief was intended him. During the interval these 
apprehensions increased to such a degree as to dissuade 
him effectually from fulfilling his engagement. 

Soon after, the same Indian found him at his work again, 
and very gravely reproved him for not performing his prom- 
ise. The man apologized, awkwardly enough, but in the 
best manner in his power. The Indian told him that he 
should be satisfied if he would meet him at the same place 
on a future day, which he named. The man promised to 
meet him and fulfilled his promise. When he arrived at 
the spot he found the Indian provided with two muskets, 
ammunition for them, and knapsacks. The Indian ordered 



366 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

him to take one of each and follow him. The direction of 
their march was to the south. The man followed without 
the least knowledge of what he was to do or whither he 
was going, but concluded that if the Indian intended him 
harm he would have despatched him at the beginning, and 
that at the worst he was as safe where he was as he could 
be in any other place. Within a short time therefore his 
fears subsided, although the Indian observed a profound 
and m.ysterious silence concerning the object of the ex- 
pedition. In the day time they shot such game as came in 
their way, and at night kindled a fire by which they slept. 
After a tedious journey of many days, they came one morn- 
ing to the top of an eminence presenting a prospect of a cul- 
tivated country in which was a number of houses. The 
Indian asked his companion whether he knew the place. 
He replied eagerly that it was Litchfield. His guide then 
after reminding him that he had so many years before re- 
lieved the wants of a famishing Indian at an Inn in that 
town, added, ''I that Indian; now I pay you; go home." 
Having said this he bade him adieu, and the man joyfully 
returned to his own house." Finis. 

NORFOLK BANKS. 

The Norfolk Bank was Chartered in 1856, with a Capital 
of $100,000, and was opened for business in the fall of that 
year in the room in the second story of the store at the 
north-east corner of the Park; the store being then occu- 
pied by Curtiss & Co. The Incorporators and first board of 
Directors were Egbert T. Butler, who was also the first 
President, Samuel D. Northway, Bobbins Battell, N. B. 
Stevens, John H. Welch, O. J. Wolcott, John K. Shepard; 
Peter Bierce of Cornwall, and Kneeland J. Munson of Ca- 
naan. Mr. Asa G. Pettibone was the first Cashier. 

The erection of the Bank Building was begun in 1856, 
the builder being Mr. Elisha Kilbourn of Winsted, a 
brother of Dea. Jonathan Kilbourn of this town. The 
building was finished and occupied by the Bank in 1857. 

In August, 1860, Mr. Kneeland J. Munson of Canaan was 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 367 

elected President of the Norfolk Bank in place of Egbert 
T. Butler, resigned. August, 1861, Mr. Asa G. Pettibone 
was elected President of the Bank, in place of K. J. Mun- 
son, resigned, and John H. Welch was elected Cashier.' 
August, 1862, John H. Welch was elected President in 
place of A. G. Pettibone resigned, and Joseph N. Cowles 
was elected Cashier. In 1870 the Bank voted to go into 
liquidation. In 1872 Joseph N. Cowles and Joseph B, El- 
dridge formed a partnership and carried on a general bank- 
ing business in this town, continuing for twenty-three 
years, going out of business in 1895. 

The Norfolk Savings Bank was incorporated by the Gen- 
eral Assembly of this State at the May Session, 1860. The 
Incorporators were: Bobbins Battell, William W. Welch, 
Egbert T. Butler, William K. Peck, Jr., John Dewell, John 
K. Shepard, John H. Welch, John C. Bates, Austin A. 
Spaulding, James M. Cowles, Anson Norton, Edmund D. 
Lawrence, Daniel Hotchkiss, Frederick E. Porter, Francis 
B. Smith, Plumb Brown, Asa G. Pettibone of Norfolk, and 
Kneeland J. Munson of Canaan, and George W. Stephens 
and A. N. Beach of North Canaan. 

Bobbins Battell or E. T. Butler were authorized to call, 
in the month of July, 1860, the first meeting of the said 
corporation, at some place in the town of Norfolk, which 
was accordingly done, and in the month of July the annual 
meetings of the Bank are held. 

At the first meeting of the Incorporators, July 2, 1860, 
By-laws were adopted, and Bobbins Battell was chosen 
President; Kneeland J. Munson, Vice-President; Asa G. 
Pettibone, Secretary and Treasurer; and the following 
Board of Trustees elected: W. W. Welch, J. K. Shepard, 
A. A. Spaulding, Plumb Brown, Geo. W. Stephens, E. T. 
Butler, J. C. Bates, W. K. Peck, Jr., E. D. Lawrence. 

It was voted that the place of business or office of the 
company be at the Norfolk Bank. 

Plumb Brown, W. W. Welch and J. K. Shepard were 
appointed to audit the accounts. 

Bobbins Battell was elected annually President of the 



368 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Bank, until his death in 1895. W. W. Welch was elected 
Vice-President at the annual meeting in 1862, and held 
that office until his death in 1892. 

Robert C. Geer was elected Secretary and Treasurer of 
the Bank in July, 1863, and continued in the office for a 
short time. 

Joseph N. Cowles was elected Secretary and Treasurer 
of the Bank in October, 1863, and held that office until 
July, 1895, when Myron N. Clark succeeded him, and still 
continues in that office. 

After the death of Bobbins Battell in 1895 Mr. Carl 
Stoeckel was elected President of the Bank, but declined 
to serve, 

Hiram P Lawrence was elected President of the Bank 
in July, 1896, and Edmund Brown and John D. Bassett, 
Auditors. 

Ralph I. Crissey was elected President of the Bank in 
July, 1898, and still holds that office. 

By the Bank Commissioners' Report of October, 1899, 
the whole amount of deposits at that time is shown to be 
1169,538.93. 

NORFOLK PRICES CURRENT, 1778. 

The following from among Dr. Eldridge's oldest manuscripts, being 
the original document, written in 1778, is of interest. It is copied 
verbatim et literatim^ so far as is possible. It is filed as follows : " Price 
of Articles Regulated A. D. 1778. Session of Asembly Feb. & March 
1778 ;" and shows signs of much use. 

" We the Subcribers agreeble to a Law or the State of Connecticut, maid at 
Thire Sescion in Febrr- & March AD. 1778, whirin Thay Directed the Sivil 
Athorrity and Surlect men of Each Town in Sd. State to make a List of the 
vahies of all Articals of Labor and Produce not Perticalerly Stated in Sd. Law 
as Therrein Set forth &c, Theirefore Agreable Thereto on the ilth Day of 
March AD 1778 We met and afifixed the Sevrel Priecses Heareafter Mentioned 
not Affixed by Said Law (viz) 

" Labor in Apriel, May Jun July August and Seprr pr Day. 
Except Harvesting and moing in Sd. months which is pr Day. . 

Labor in The Rest of The month of The year pr Day 

For Shewing a Ilors all Round and Steel Corking 

For Common Chanes & Plow pins pr pound 

For a Good Narrer Ax & Sith Each 

For a Good Broad Hoe 



£ 


s. 


d. 


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HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 



369 



Joiners by The D from the loth of March to the loth of Sept pr 

Day 

and The rest of The year pr Day 

Carpenders by The Day 

Masons by The Day 

For Making Mens Shews by the Pare 

Weaving Plane Cloth per yard 

For Sawing White Pine Inch Boards by The Thouson 

and other Bards in Parpotion. 

A Taler by The Day 

A Talerest by The Day 

A Clother for Presing Thin Cloth by The yard 

for Cowering and Presing Do 

for Cowering Dying Presing Cheeps Cullered Cloths pr yard . . . 

for f uling Tanthering Thick Cloth pr yard 

for Presing Do Each Time 

for Shearing Each Time 

for Dying Common Brown by The yard 

for a Good foot Wheal 

For Stocking A Gun 

For Making A barrel without Sap 

For a Good Pale 

Taven keepers for a Good meal of Vittles 

Other Vittles in Porpopotion. 

For keeping A Hors on Hay one Night 

For Keeping a yoak of oxen one Night on Hay 

For keeping Do- on Grass one Night 

For Keeping Horse A Night on Grass 

For Cyder by The Mug 

Good Westingee Rum at a Gill 

New England Rum and Brandy and Jinn 

A mug of flip made of Westingee Rum 2-4 other Rum 

Good flax by The Pound 

Good Wool by The Pound 

Good yard Wide Tow Cloth pr Yard 

Good yard wide Cheet flanel pr yard 

Good yard Wide White flanel 

Good Wool Cards pr Pare 

Good felts Hats pr Each 

Good Wool men Stockings p"" Pare 

Taler by The Pound 

Good Marchentble Pine Boards in the Midel of The Town by 

The Thouson 

Other Boards in Porpotion to Theree Quallity, and boards at 
Other mills and Places in sd Norfolk as usal. 

Machenttable flax seed 

Other flax seed in Porpotion 

Lantched Oile by The Barrel by The Gallon 

Marchenttable English Hay by The Tun out of the Barn or Stack 

Do in the cock 

In SmallerQuantatys in the Same Porpotion. 

For Hors Hire by The mile 

One Yoak of oxen by The Day to work in Common farming 
Business at Half The Price of a man Days work at the Same 
Time. 

Good Cyder by The Barrel at The Press 

Do. oute of The Seller 






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370 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Mortheglin by The Gallon 

Do. by The Quart 

Tobacer That is Good pr Pound , 

Womans work by The weeK Spinning Twelve Run of Lining 

Other work in Porpotion. 

Giles PETTiBONE-j^gtis Pece. 
Michel Mills 1 
Titus Ives [■ Surlete 

TiMo. Gaylord J Men. 

SOME OF THE COLORED PEOPLE. 

The following facts, incidents, etc., left in the hand writ- 
ing of Mrs. Mary Oakley Beach were found among some of 
her papers after her death, and are of interest. 

"Jupiter and Fanny Mars, the parents of Dea. James, 
Kev. John, and Charlotte Mars, lived," — The sentence 
was left unfinished. "Some of the neighboring young 
people who were very fond of dancing would go to his 
house and give him a quarter, when he would play on his 
Tiolin as long as they liked to dance. So fearful was he 
that they would not receive the full worth of their money, 
if they paused to rest he would say "time is continuous." 
When asked if he was not a great fiddler he said, "I plays 
sometimes for my own amazement." 

"My father said that Rev. John Mars, one of the sons of 
of Jupiter, made the best prayer he ever heard. He 
preached in this church in April, 1872, at Dr. Eldridge's 
request, giving two most excellent sermons. He lived at 
my father's when I was a baby and was very fond of me. 
I used to pat his face as he held me, as I have been told, 
and he would say, "My black skin does not make any differ- 
ence to her." 

"James Mars united with the Congregational Church 
about 1815, with many others. When it was his turn to go 
forward for baptism the pastor said to him, "Dost thou 
believe with all thy heart?" "I think I do," he replied. 
Then, turning to the congregation the pastor said, "Breth- 
ren, let not this Ethiopian rise up against you to condemn 
you." 

Once, I think at a sunrise prayer meeting, James Mars j 
was asked to pray, unexpectedly, and refused. After the ' 





SAMUEL SMITH. 



DEA. JAMES MARS. 




MRS. BILHAH FREEDOM. 



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'i/'^.-W c 



NORFOLK UNDER THE SNOW. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 371 

meeting he resolved never to refuse to pray again so long 
as he lived, and he never did, although he lived to be ninety- 
one. — dying in 1880. The last years of his life were spent 
here, and he was the most zealous Christian worker in 
town. One who was not prejudiced in favor of Christians, 
or colored people, said: "Dea. Mars was the best deacon in 
town." 

Jupiter and Fanny Mars were slaves, owned by the Ca- 
naan minister, Mr Thompson, and ran away from him with 
their children when he was about to take them back to 
Virginia. They were concealed here in Norfolk for some 
time, and at last a settlement was made, by their minis- 
terial owner selling the two boys. James was bought for 
f 100 by Mr. Munger, who lived on a farm west from the 
church, where E. L. Gaylord now (1895) lives, and worked 
for Mr, Munger till he was 21, for his freedom, instead of 
the |100, which it was customary to pay a boy when he 
was of age. One of his daughters went to Liberia to live. 
When Dea. Darius Phelps' first wife died leaving two little 
boys, Fanny Mars went and took care of them for awhile. 
Afterward her daughter, Charlotte, went there and re- 
mained in the family more than sixty years, till her death, 
at Mrs. Dr. Knight's in Lakeville. She was an excellent 
Christian woman. 

Another colored family of worth in the long ago, was 
Peter Freedom and his wife, Bilhah. Peter for some time 
worked in the grist mill, 'tended mill, as it was called. He 
was a very respectable man. They lived for some time in 
the old house which stood where the Eldridge house now 
stands, and later in what was Mr. Edmund Akin's law 
oflSce. They also lived once in the old Ebenezer Burr house, 
which stood a few rods south of Mr. Ralph Crissey's present 
home. Aunt Bilhah used to make gingerbread and sell to 
the children, and a lady is living in Winsted, (Mrs. Wil- 
liam Norton,) who remembers buying gingerbread of Aunt 
Bilhah when she lived in the old Burr house, probably 
nearly seventy-five years ago. 

Peter died and Aunt Bilhah, as everybody called her, 



372 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

went and lived for a time in N. Y. State with her daugh- 
ter, Amanda, but later they returned here, Amanda having 
several children. Aunt Bilhah was famous as a cook, and 
was in demand on Thanksgiving days, at weddings, and 
the like. Her home the last years of her life was the small 
building, built and used as a shoe-shop by Mr. Oliver But- 
ler. She was respected and loved by everybody, and died 
from a cancer, November, 1871, aged nearly 89." 

Few persons in the whole history of the town, regardless 
of name, race, color or condition, have been more respected 
and loved than was 'Aunt Bilhah,' as she was called by 
almost everyone. In the south she would have been to 
everyone, 'Mammy.' 

Some of those who loved and esteemed her in life, caused 
to be placed at her grave a monument of enduring marble, 
which bears the following inscription : — 

"BILHAH FREEDOM, WIDOW OF PETER FREEDOM; 
BORN IN LITCHFIELD, CONN., JANUARY, 1783. LIVED IN THIS TOWN, 
GREATLY RESPECTED AND BELOVED. DIED NOVEMBER 10, 1871. OF 
AFRICAN AND PRINCELY DESCENT. OF QUEENLY YET DEFERENTIAL 
DEMEANOR. GRATEFUL AND HAPPY IN HER HUMBLE LOT, TENDER AND 
TRUE. GIVING THANKS ALWAYS FOR ALL THINGS UNTO GOD AND THE 
FATHER, IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST." 

Peter Freedom died April, 1837, aged 63. Glorony, his 
wife, died July, 1809, aged 35. Clorinda, their daughter, 
died 1869, aged 74. Amanda Van Ness, daughter of Peter 
and Bilhah Freedom, died June, 1867, aged 53. Jupiter 
Mars died June 23, 1818, aged 67. 

"Another colored family, but of a very different class, 
lived in a house of my grandfather's, Asa Burr's, west of 
his own house. "Old Charles Danforth, Old Phebe," and 
their son, Jupiter, constituted the family. 'Jupe' was mar- 
ried while they lived there, and Mr. Eldridge performed 
the ceremony at the Danforth home. After the ceremony 
was ended Mr. Eldridge started to leave: No, no, said old 
Charles, you can't go yet, and taking from the cupboard 
a bottle of rum, poured some of it in a tumbler and added 
molasses and nutmeg, and proceeded to taste of it. More 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 373 

than half had disappeared before he was satisfied that it 
was right, when his wife said, hold on there, Charles, I 
want some of that. He then offered it to Mr. Eldridge, who, 
tempting as it was, declined it, and old Phebe had the re- 
mainder. Again Mr. Eldridge started to go: Not yet; we 
are not through yet, said Charles. A tin of gingerbread 
was then brought from the cupboard, and passed to Mr. 
Eldridge, who declined that also. "Well, we must send 
some to Miss Eldridge," they said, and so a large piece was 
done up for her, with which doubtless she was greatly 
pleased. ''Now what do you tax?" was the next remark. 
"I haven't any price," was the reply. "People pay just 
what they choose. If they wish to pay something they do 
so, and if not I marry them for nothing." "You must have 
something this time," said Charles. "It is a cold night and 
you have come a long way, and I guess a quarter will be 
about right." Then feeling in all his pockets, he said, 
"Why, I had a quarter; where can it be?" Not discovering 
the quarter, he said, "Well, I'll make a basket for you. 
If Miss Eldridge would like a clothes basket I'll make her 
a nice one." Upon being told that that would be satisfac- 
tory, Mr. Eldridge was permitted to start for home. (At 
latest advices the clothes basket had not yet been de- 
livered.)" 

Another colored man of excellent character, half a cen- 
tury ago known in the town by everybody, was Samuel 
Smith, who in all the early part of his life was a trusted 
employee of Esq. Joseph Battell, and known to many as 
'Sam. Battell.' The last half of his life he was Mr Bobbins 
Battell's farmer. For many years he was janitor of the 
church, in the days when the church bell was rung in sum- 
mer at 'high noon,' and in winter at nine o'clock in the 
evening, — the old 'curfew,' which meant, 'put out your 
candles and get to bed.' One summer day Sam. made a 
slight mistake, which for an hour stirred up the whole 
community Looking at his watch he called the time five 
minutes of twelve; started post-haste for the meeting-house 
to ring the bell, and as soon as the town-clock was through 



374 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

striking, he rang the bell as usual. People hearing the 
bell, listened intently, and said at first, 'I wonder who is 
dead?' It was the custom then to ring the bell whenever 
anyone died in town, and toll one stroke for each year the 
person had lived. By the second or third stroke of the 
bell on this summer's day people who were listening said, 
'why, it isn't the death bell, — it's noon; what a short fore- 
noon it has been!' Farmers within sound of the bell turned 
out their teams and hastened to their homes for their din- 
ners, to be told, 'dinner is not ready; it's only eleven 
o'clock.' Sam simply had read his watch, five minutes of 
twelve, when it was just eleven o'clock. When twelve 
o'clock came he rang the bell again, and the usual equilib- 
rium of the town was restored. 

ELEVATIONS. 

Norfolk, in addition to its charms of natural scenery, 
has the distinction of lying at a greater elevation above 
tide water than almost any other town in the state. The 
elevation of the R. R. Station — 1,250 feet — is greater than 
that of any other station in the state. From elevations 
taken a few years since by Mr. E. W. F. Natter of the U. S. 
Geological Survey, we find that "the highest point of land 
in the State is Bear Mountain in Salisbury, — a peak of the 
Taconic range, which is 2,355 feet high." Mt. Everett, in 
Mass., west of Sheffield, 2,624 feet, is visible from almost 
anywhere in Norfolk. Mt. Bradford, in Canaan, is 1,930 
feet; Bald Mountain, in Norfolk, 1,763; Mohawk Mountain, 
in Cornwall, 1,653; Ivy Mountain, in Goshen, 1,633; Hay- 
stack Mountain, in Norfolk, 1,633; Peak of Summer Hill, 
1,633; Button Hill, in Norfolk, 1,632; Lake Wangum, in 
Canaan, 1,437; The Hillhurst, in Norfolk, 1,312; Norfolk 
Summit, 1,336; The Railroad Station in Norfolk, 1,250; 
Pond Hill, 1,560; Winsted, 725; Torrington, 589; Water- 
bury, 256; New Haven, at tide water. 

SINGING SCHOOLS. 

In the year 1824 Mr. Joseph Battelle gave a sum of money 
to the Ecclesiastical Society, the interest upon which sum 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 875 

would, if properly invested, be $50, annually, which the 
donor specified should be used for the improvement of Sa- 
cred music. The custom was adopted in the early history 
of this fund, of having a series of singing-schools once in 
two years, expending |100. For many years until his re- 
moval to the west in 1852, Deacon Darius Phelps was the 
very efl6cient teacher of these schools, and also the leader 
of the church choir. The schools opened in the fall and 
there was a session usually two evenings each week through 
the winter. The old Conference-room used to be filled at 
these singing schools, the young people attending regularly 
from all parts of the town. They were taught the rudi- 
ments of music thoroughly; reading at sight and voice 
culture. The series of schools closed in the spring, often 
with a concert, more or less grand, and from these classes 
recruits were taken for the large chorus choir of the church, 
which when full numbered from forty to fifty voices. Nor- 
folk was famous in those days as having the best choir and 
the finest church music in Litchfield County at least. The 
music was that of trained, cultivated voices, the only in- 
strument used in the singing schools, and in the church for 
years, was Dea. Phelps' tuning fork, and even that he rarely 
needed to use in taking the correct pitch. He was also 
the leader of the "Litchfield County Musical Society;" 
taught in many of the towns through the county and ar- 
ranged and conducted the county concerts, which in those 
days were unsurpassed. The first teacher after Dea. Phelps, 
was a young man, Mr. Scholes, who taught in the winter of 
1853-4. J. Bidwell Peck of Litchfield, a brother-in-law of 
George F Boot, came next, and after him a Mr. Hinman, 
who was succeeded by our efficient townsmen, Mr. Bobbins 
Battelle and Col. Horace B. Knapp, each of them teach- 
ing for many years. 

ANECDOTES. 

When the old meeting-house was taken down preparatory 
to building the new one in 1813, it was made quite an oc- 
casion in the town. It was a matter of universal interest, 



376 HISTOKY OF NORFOLK. 

and people gathered from far and near to witness the fall 
of the old church so dear to them all. 

The frame was stripped, and the posts sawed nearly off, 
ropes attached, and everything in readiness before noon. 
It was thought advisable to adjourn for dinner, and then 
assemble for the grand climax. While the majority were 
still at their dinner, a few of the carpenters who had fin- 
ished their meal came around the frame and began "fool- 
ing" with the ropes. 

One gave a little stronger jerk than he intended, and 
suddenly, without warning, down came the structure with 
a crash, nearly catching the unwary carpenters in its fall 
and adding tragedy to comedy. The only other witnesses 
were a few children. Great was the consternation of the 
carpenters, and great the indignation of the good people 
when they realized their disappointment, to which some 
tried to give expression by marching around the ruins, and 
firing blank cartridges at the offenders. 

When the church was finished, in 1814, and the vane, 
its crowning glory, added, there was great rejoicing. Bar- 
zillai Treat, a man of versatile accomplishments and a dare 
devil withal, gave expression to his elation by climbing 
to the apex of the steeple one training day, and sitting 
astride the vane while he played his violin. 

The military company had assembled on the Green one 
morning for 'training,' and the spectators heard a violin, 
and for some time could not locate it, and were wonder- 
ing "where on earth that music comes from." Someone 
finally thought it must come from heaven, and looking up 
soon discovered the veritable 'Barzel' astride of the new 
vane, playing "for his own and the people's amazement," 
as Jupiter Mars once said. 

The fool-hardy act was witnessed by numbers of people, 
who often alluded to it in later life. One young man was 
so uncomfortably affected by the sight that he turned 
aside and threw up his breakfast. 

Another incident connected with the new church was 
the climbing of three or four little girls into the belfry, 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 377 

and getting outside the railing and holding to it, chasing 
one another around in a game of ''Catcher." 

Men below, looking up and seeing their perilous position, 
were so alarmed they dared not shout to them, but hastily 
ascending the stairs, each took in a child without saying 
a word. 

Someone once asked Dr. Benjamin Welch, Sen., what 
he did for himself when he got sick? His reply was, 'I 
just go to bed, stay in bed all day and eat nothing; let the 
old mill grind out.' 'What do you do the second day?' 
'Just the same treatment; stay in bed and eat nothing.' 
'The third day what do you do?' 'Oh, I am always well 
again the third day.' 

SUMMIT ROCK. 

On the Goshen Road, about a quarter of a mile south of 
the residence of Mr. Marvin, is a massive rock which is 
said to be just at the summit, or the 'divide,' as it is some- 
times called; and it is said that the rain which falls upon 
the south side of this rock runs south into the Naugatuck 
River; the rain which falls upon the north side runs north 
into the Housatonic River, and from a point near there 
the water runs east and falls into the Farmington River, 
which is a tributary of the Connecticut — 'Quonektacut' was 
the Indian name. 

Mr. Joshua Beach lived in the south part of the town 
and made cheese casks, in which the great cheese, made 
by some of the farmers were packed and shipped. He kept 
no team, and delivered his casks to Esq. Battell's store on 
his wheelbarrow. He had thirteen children. Upon one 
of Parson Bobbins' pastoral visits at Mr. Beach's, the whole 
flock were called in to meet the minister, who laid his hand 
on the head of each child with the patriarchal benediction, 
'the Lord bless you my child.' When the entire family 
had been presented, turning to the father, Mr. Bobbins 
said, 'I trust, sir, you realize that these children are a bless- 
ing, sent to you from the Lord.' Mr. Beach replied, 'I trust, 
sir. I do; but sometimes I feel that I have been blessed al- 
most to death.' 



1738 to 1789 


51 years. 


1741 ' 


' 1776 


35 " 


1743 • 


' 1788 


45 " 


1749 ' 


' 1793 


44 '• 


1752 • 


' 1803 


51 " 


1744 ' 


' 1795 


51 " 


1755 ' 


' 1781 


26 " 


1760 ' 


' 1813 


53 " 


1770 ' 


' 1806 


36 " 


1761 " 1813 


52 " 


1770 ' 


• 1775 


5 " 


1772 " 1829 


57 " 



378 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

LENGTH OF OLD PASTORATES. 

In the early history of this and other towns in the vi- 
cinity the settlement of a minister usually meant for life. 
The average length of the pastorate in twelve of the Litch- 
field County towns is 42 1-6 years, given in Boyd's Annals, 
as follows: — 

"Dr. Joseph Bellamy, Bethlehem, 
Rev. Nathaniel Roberts, Torrington, 
" Jonathan Lee, Salisbuiy, 
" Daniel Brinsmade, Washington, 
" Daniel Farrand, Canaan, 
" Thomas Canfield, Roxbury, 
" Abel Newell, Goshen, 
" Noah Benedict, Woodbury, 
" Jeremiah Day, New Preston, 
" Ammi R. Robbins, Norfolk, 
" Asahel Hart, North Canaan, 
" Peter Starr, Warren, 

"Here worshipped the fathers and mothers of the town and their 
offspring for fifty years,— a race of honest, hard-working, self-deny- 
ing, pious, rigid Puritans. . . . The like of these and other 
worthies who here dispensed the symbolic bread of life, and di- 
gested the severe doctrines of the Calvinistic creed, is not to be 
found in these days of diluted orthodoxy." 

CENSUS REPORTS. 

The first census of the Colony of which there seems to 
be a record was taken in 1756, and the next census in 1774. 

The figures of these two enumerations, not only of this 
town but of the other towns in this County, will be of in- 
terest to at last some readers: — 

Census 1756 1774 

Barkhamsted 18 250 

Colebrook 150 

Canaan 1100 1635 

Cornwall 500 974 

Goshen 610 1111 

Hartland 12 500 

Harwinton 250 1018 

Kent 1000 1996 

Litchfield 1366 1544 



I 

i 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 379 

New Hartf onl 260 1001 

New Milford 1127 2776 

Norfolk 84 969 

Salisbury 1100 1980 

Sharon 1205 2012 

Torriugton 250 845 

Wmchester 24 339 

Woodbury 2911 5313 

Westmoreland 1922 

Norfolk in 1774 had "3 black residents;" probably slaves. 
Westmoreland, situated in the valley of Wyoming, Penn., 
was in 1774 one of the towns of Litchfield County. 

The population of Norfolk as given in the various Cen- 
sus reports, subsequent to those of 1756 and 1774, given 
above, are as follows: — 

Census of 1782 1246 

" 1800 1649 

" 1810 1441 

" 1820 1422 

" 1830 1485 

" 1840 1393 

" lS.oO 1643 

" 1860 1803 

" 1870 1641 

" 1880 1418 

" 1890 1546 

" " 1900 (Estimated) 1600 

NORFOLK BRICK. 

To a limited extent the item of Brick should be added 
to the other manufactures of the town. Prior to 1850 Mess. 
Luke Beckwith and Salmon Swift made brick in what is 
called 'the old brick yard,' on land then owned by Michael 
F. Mills, Esq., on 'Lovers' Lane, north from 'The Hillhurst.' 

A few years later, in the early '50s, brick of good quality 
were made in the same place for Capt. John A. Shepard, 
by Charles N. Hollister, and others. Of these brick, the 
Hosiery Company's 'Brick Building' was constructed, and 
they were used for building chimneys, and other purposes. 



380 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

THE FRENCH WAR. 

There were a number of Norfolk men in the French War, 
but it seems difficult, not to say impossible, to get a cor- 
rect list of their names. Some of those who served in this 
war were: Mr. Hopestill Welch, Dea. Edward Gaylord, Ja- 
cob Spaulding, Ephraim Parker, Roys Gaylord, and others. 
Dea. Edward Gaylord went from Boston, under command 
of Gen. Benedict Arnold, to Quebec, much of the way 
through a wilderness. This command of Arnold's did not 
reach Quebec until after the British had taken that city, 
and this gave the control of Canada to the British from 
that time on. Hopestill W^elch was also in this expedition 
which made the long, dreary, forced march from Boston 
in about 1756, through the wilderness to Quebec, and doubt- 
less other Norfolk men served in the same campaign, and 
endured the same terrible hardships. 

THE WAR OF 1812. 

This war took but slight hold upon the hearts and minds 
of the people here, although it appears that some were 
drafted from this, as from the other towns, and were in 
the service for a time. The record of the Soldiers in the 
war of 1812 shows that Captain Sereno Pettibone, son of 
Colonel Giles Pettibone, was in the service for some months 
at New London in 1813, as ''Commander," and doubtless 
there were a number of Norfolk men in the service at the 
same time. Some of the men under Mr. Pettibone had Nor- 
folk names, and may have been residents of this time, but 
to the writer it is not certainly proven, the names of the 
towns to which they belonged not being given. Some of 
the names were Zenas Barber, Harvey, Hosea and Jedediah 
Case; Aziel, Decius, George, Hiram, Oliver and Rufus Hum- 
phrey; Abiel Pease, Elisha Wilcox, and others. Joseph 
G. Barnes enlisted from Norfolk in the regular army at 
that time. Dr. Benjamin F. Calhoun of this town was a 
surgeon in the army during the War of 1812. Thomas 
Ferry was a Captain, and served at New London in this 
war. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 381 

In the Mexican War, Isaac Beach and Wolcott Warner 
are recorded as having enlisted from Norfolk; and there 
may have been others. 

SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY SEAT. 

When Litchfield County was organized in 1751 there was 
much difference of opinion as to the location of the county 
seat. Litchfield, Goshen, Canaan and Cornwall urged their 
respective claims with much zeal, but the strongest con- 
test was between Litchfield and Goshen. Goshen was sup- 
posed to be the geographical center of the county, and 
many persons had settled there in expectation that the 
county seat would be established in that town; and when 
Litchfield was named as the county seat in the act incor- 
porating the new county, many of the contestants were 
sorely disappointed, among whom was Oliver Wolcott, 
afterwards Governor, Wolcott was appointed first High 
Sheriff and thereupon took up his residence at the County 
seat. William Preston of Woodbury was appointed Chief 
Judge, and Samuel Pettibone of Goshen, King's Attorney. 
Woodbury continued to manifest her dissatisfaction; peti- 
tioned the Legislature to be re-annexed to Fairfield County, 
and twenty years later made an effort to have the Legisla- 
ture organize a county to be called Woodbury, and laid a 
rate of a penny and a half on the pound to be applied 
toward erecting the county buildings. 

STBONG FUND — PEOBATE DISTRICT. 

July, 1847, "The town came into possession of property 
devised to the town by the late John Strong, deceased. It 
was voted that said property shall constitute a Fund, which 
shall always hereafter be known as the Strong Fund, and 
all interest derived from this fund shall be credited on the 
books of the Treasurer in a separate account, and that 
the Selectmen shall be ex officio trustees and managers 
of the fund, and the treasurer of the town treasurer of the 
fund." 

The Probate District of Norfolk, which was established 



382 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

at an early date in the history of the town, included the 
towns of Norfolk, Colebrook and Winchester. In 1838 
the Probate District of Winchester, which embraced the 
towns of Winchester and Colebrook, was created by act 
of the Legislature of the State, leaving the town of Nor- 
folk a Probate District, and such it still continues. 

WHITEFIELD, IN NORFOLK. 

In his Historical Discourse, delivered in July, 18Z6, Beach 
says: ^'During George Whitefield's seventh and last visit 
to America in 1769 and '70 he came into this neighborhood, 
and was listened to as always by attentive crowds, yet 
there was among Congregationalists a very strong objec- 
tion to his labors as tending to many excesses; a feeling 
which now can scarcely be comprehended. Mr. Bobbins 
did not share it, but received the great preacher to his 
house and entertained him. The room in which he slept, 
the north-east front chamber, became afterwards an ob- 
ject of interest to the clergy from its association with him. 
He preached in a large barn, it is said, on the old Ives place, 
July 17, 1770, to a large and solemn audience. Robert Mc- 
Ewen, then a young man, living in the edge of Winchester, 
heard Mr. Whitefield preach, as is mentioned below. He 
soon after joined the Norfolk church, and at its organiza- 
tion took a letter to the church in Winchester, of which 
he became one of the pillars. He was the father of Rev. 
Abel McEwen, D. D." 

Robert McEwen, one of the earliest settlers of Winches- 
ter, in an entry in his diary says: "July, ye 17, in yr. 1770. 
Heard ye famous Mr. Whitefield preach at Norfolk from 
John 5 :25, which I hope was a word in season to me." 

Invocation of the divine blessing at the collation at the 
Winchester Centennial Celebration Aug. 16, 1871, by Rev. 
Joseph Eldridge, D. D. : — 

"Out Father in Heaven, we thank thee for thy providential gov- 
ernment over the world, and for the establishment and preserva- 
tion of thy church among men. We thauli thee that thou didst 
extend thy care over those that came to this land and those who 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 383 

have descended from them. We thank thee for all thy favor to 
those who one hundred years ago dwelt here; and for all the pros- 
perity and all the blessings conferred upon them and their de- 
scendants, and that in circumstances of so much favor we may 
meet on this beautiful day; and that this day we have been per- 
mitted to commemorate their history, and derive blessings from 
their experience and their service, and enter into the blessings that 
through thy grace they have transmitted to us. We thank thee 
for all the blessings of the past and of this occasion. May we de- 
liver the blessings granted to us unimpaired to those who shall 
come after us, so that when a hundred years have passed away, 
our descendants may look back towards us, as we now look 
towards those who dwelt here a hundred years ago; through Jesus 
Christ our Redeemer. Amen." 

The following reminiscences of Dr. Eldridge, by Ex-Gov- 
ernor Lorrin A. Cooke, a former resident and student in 
the town, are of interest: 

Dr. Eldridge was the most impressive speaker I ever heard. I 
remember subjects of his sermons, and much that he embodied in 
them, delivered when I was ten or twelve years of age. ills 
manner sometimes in the pulpit was terribly earnest, and I went 
home frequently when a boy deeply moved by his powerful 
eloquence. 

His visits to the little schools of the town were occasions of 
great interest to the children, and his kind interest in the work 
and welfare of each pupil is remembered vividly. On such occa- 
sions he let himself down from the great preacher and revered 
pastor to warm friend and helper of each child. 

An incident occurred when, after an absence from the town 
of several years, I returned to attend the academy taught by Prof. 
William B. Rice. A thunder storm in February, a rare occurrence, 
sent a bolt of lightning against a maple tree standing just back of 
the house where I boarded (that of Anson Norton, Esq.), and shat- 
tering the tree, threw a part of the trunk with a crashing noise 
against the house. It was in the middle of the night, and the next 
morning many villagers came to see the tree and the effects of the 
lightning. Among the number was Dr. Eldridge. Some one asked, 
"Were you afraid during the terrible storm last night?" "Yes," 
was the reply, "a man is a fool not to be afraid in such a storm." 

In the funeral sermon of old Dr. Welch (the father of Drs. 
James and Wm. Welch), he said it had been observed that fa- 
miliarity with the human body in post mortem examinations, etc., 
begot in physicians an irreligious tendency and skepticism, but in 
the case of Dr. Welch the opposite effect was produced. 



384 HISTORY OF NOKFOLK. 

I will not say what a power he was in town afifairs. The 
salvation of your beautiful park from railroad encroachment is a 
case in point, when, single-handed, he beat back the purpose of 
those eager to sacrifice the beauty of the village to the supposed 
necessity of a corporation. 

THE COLD SUMMER. 

Boyd says: 'The cold summer of 1816," to which often 
the father of the writer used to refer, "added to the gloom 
of the period of business depression. The spring was cold 
and backward, and the summer cold and dry. Frosts pre- 
vailed every month of the year. The mowing lands yielded 
less than half an average crop. Scarcely an ear of corn 
in the town came to maturity. Potatoes were few and 
small, and dairy products were scant in quantity and low 
in price. Much apprehension prevailed of a famine during 
the winter, which was measurably averted by a provident 
planting of turnips when it was seen that other crops were 
to fail. This crop was large, and thereby the lack of hay 
was partly made good in wintering such stock as was not 
killed or sold off the preceding fall." 

There is a tradition that the only corn that ripened in 
this town that year, was upon a very rocky piece of ground, 
favorably located, where it was believed that the rocks, 
warmed by the sun through the day, prevented frost at 
night. Who dares say that rocks are of no use in a corn- 
field? 

The Masonic Fraternity celebrated their Centennial in 
Norfolk, September 17, 1896. The following notice of that 
celebration, including an, interesting historical address, 
was published at the time in one of the local papers, has 
been preserved, and is herewith given: — 

1796-1896 — WESTERN STAR — NORFOLK MASONS CELEBRATE THE ONE- 
HUNDREUTH ANNIVERSARY OF WESTERN STAR LODGE, NO. 37, 
A. F. & A. M. — A LARGE ASSEMBLY OF MASONS PRESENT — FLAGS, 
BUNTING, FLOWERS — BANQUET, SPEECHES AND 'MUSIC IN VILLAGE 
HALL. 

Thursday evening, September 17th, vpas a memorable occasion 
for Norfolk. Memorable not only as the rounding out of a full 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK 385 

century for Western Star Lodge, No. 37, A. F, & A. M., but mem- 
orable for the interest which the whole town took in an institution, 
of which many are not members, but whose record and good deeds 
are known and admired. It was an assembly of brave men— and 
fair women— for, be it known, on this occasion many ladies were 
present and the valuable services they have directly and indirectly 
rendered Western Star Lodge in the past were recognized, and 
thanks tendered them. It was an assembly of brave men, some 
of whom had displayed their bravery on the battle field in defense 
of their country. It was an assembly of which any town might 
be proud. The occasion was also memorable in another respect. 
It is a remarkable coincidence that the one hundredth anniversary 
of George Washington's farewell address occurred last Saturday, 
Sept. 19, and the one hundredth anniversary of Western Star Lodge 
occurred last Thursday, Sept. 17. George Washington was a Mason, 
and also for many years he was the Worshipful Master of a Ma- 
sonic Lodge. Thus it appears that Western Star Lodge began 
where Washington left off, and Western Star has for one hundred 
years nobly and successfully carried forward a work in which 
Washington was so deeply interested. May the name and fame 
of Western Star Lodge be as enduring as the name and fame of 
George Washington. 

Neighboring lodges were well represented. St. Andrew's Lodge 
of Winsted sent the largest delegation, about fifty brethren arriv- 
ing by the 4.46 p. m. train and departing by special train at 11.30 
p. m. Western Star Lodge was opened at 7 o'clock to receive the 
visiting brethren, and for an hour the Masons exchanged greet- 
ings and formed new acquaintances. At 7.45 the fraternity formed 
in line in front of the lodge room and marched three abreast to 
Village Hall, where the banquet was held. Village Hall had been 
transformed into a bower of beauty. The decorations were elab- 
orate, flags, bunting, flowers and Japanese lanterns being used with 
artistic taste and efi'ect. Tables extended around three sides of the 
hall, while three long tables occupied the centre. Leversidge's full 
orchestra from Winsted occupied the stage and discoursed enchant- 
ing music before and during the banquet. 

The tables were bedecked with spotless linen, and flowers in vases 
were pleasing to the eye. Plates had been laid for two hundred 
persons. At each plate were a bouquet, and a badge bearing this 
inscription: "1796—1896, Centennial Celebration of Western Star 
Lodge, No. 37, A. F. & A. M., Norfolk, Connecticut, September 17, 
1896." 

After all were seated at the tables, and chatting with their nelgti- 
bors. Worshipful Master W. L. Bgleston rapped for order. He 
then delivered a most cordial address of welcome and stated the 



386 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

object of the gathering. He briefly mentioned the history of West- 
ern Star Lodge, and then requested the Rev. Jolin P. Hawley of 
New Hartford to invoke the Divine blessing upon this occasion. 

Mr. John D. Bassett of Norfolk, a versatile speaker, had been 
chosen toastmaster. At the proper time he commenced the "feast 
of reason and flow of soul" by telling humorous anecdotes, and 
during the remainder of the evening he made many fitting re- 
marks in introducing the speakers and in commenting on the topics 
presented. 

Brother Ralph I. Crissey, of Norfolk, spoke of the history of 
Western Star Lodge as follows: 

MR. CRISSEY'S speech. 

"A historical address must of necessity be somewhat dry and 
prosy, especially so when composed largely of statistics, but I will 
make this very brief and try not to test your patience in what I 
have to say. 

Western Star Lodge, No. 37, received its charter May 18th, 1796; 
11 charter members. On the 31st day of August, 1796, its first 
officers were installed into their respective offices by the Grand 
Secretary of the Grand Lodge of the State of Connecticut, Right 
Worshipful John Mix. Howard B. Ensign was Grand Master at 
the time and E. G. Storer was Grand Secretary, both of whom 
signed the charter. Giles Pettibone, Jr., was Master, Ovid Burrall, 
Sen. Warden; Jeddediah W. Phelps, Jun. Warden; Benjamin Welch, 
Treasurer; Joseph Battell, Secretary; Frederick Plumb, Sen. Dea.; 
Ariel Lawrence, Jun. Dea.; Joel Walter, Tyler, Francis Benedict, 
Levi Thompson and A. Phelps were the other three charter mem- 
bers. 

After the installation of the oflicers the records say they pro- 
ceeded to the meeting house, where a most excellent sermon was 
delivered by the Rev. Dr. Edwards, and a very pertinent oration was 
spoken by our worthy brother, Grand Secretary Mix. Then pro- 
ceeded to the house of Brother Giles Pettibone, Jr., and partook of a 
most excellent dinner, provided for the occasion. Numerous toasts 
were responded to, among which were these: "Our illustrious 
brother, George Washington, president of the United States;" 
another, "May our w'isdom be as conspicuous to our sisters as our 
Grand Master Solomon's was to the Queen of Sheba." 

The first communication of the lodge was held Sept. 14th, 1796. 
It was the custom of the lodge to celebrate St. John the Evangelist's 
day in December, and St. John the Baptist's in June, on which occa- 
sions they usually went to the meeting house and had a sermon by 
some clergyman in this section. Parson Bobbins of Norfolk was 
frequently the speaker. Sometimes on these occasions an oration 



k 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 387 

Tvas deiiverea "by some one of the brethren. One by the Master, 
Giles Pefttibone, Jr., and later one by Joseph Battell at the time 
Master, are highly spoken of. It was the custom on these occasions 
to invite neighboring lodges. Montgomery Lodge of Salisbury, Cin- 
cinnatus Lodge of Barrington, whose charter also bears the date 
of 1796, and the lodge at New Hartford were often invited. 

The jurisdiction of Western Star comprised the towns of Nor- 
folk, Colebrook, Winchester and Torrington. 

At a communication of the lodge April 8th, 1800, we find the 
following: Whereas a number of members of this lodge from Win- 
chester and its neighborhood have petitioned the Grand Lodge for 
a charter for a lodge to be holden in Winchester. A committee of 
two from each town was appointed to confer with the petitioners 
to try to Induce them to withdraw their petition. Benjamin Welch, 
Giles Pettibone, Ovid Burrall, Lewis Norton, Seth Wetmore, Moses 
Wright and Isaac Benedict were appointed. As a result of this 
the Grand Lodge was petitioned to grant Western Star liberty to 
hold its communications in Norfolk, Winchester, Colebrook and 
Canaan, to do any and all regular Masonic business in either of 
said towns. This was evidently granted, as their meetings from this 
time until April, 1816, were holden in these several towns, the 
lodge voting where to hold its next communication. Also the cele- 
bration of St. John's days after this were in these different towns. 

December 18th, 3801, lodge convened at the 'house of brother 
John C. Riley, in Winchester, proceeded to the meeting house to 
listen to the sermon and oration. A vote of thanks was extended 
to brother Erastus Baker for his very timely oration. Also voted to 
€xtend the thanks of the Lodge for the most excellent sermon this 
day delivered to us, and that a copy be requested for the press. 
Also voted that $6 be drawn from the treasury and be presented to 
the Rev. gentleman, but the Rev. gentleman's name is not given. 

On Monday, Dec. 27th, 1802, they met in Canaan, at the home of 
Brother Seth Rockwell, opened lodge in due and ancient form, then 
in procession proceeded to the meeting 'house and listened to a well 
•adapted discourse delivered by Rev. Mr. Morgan. 

In June, 1803, in Colebrook, at the house of Brother Arab Phelps, 
Rev. Chauncey Lee preached the sermon, and so on, having their 
St. John celebrations, as well as their regular communications, in 
the different towns. 

Rev. Mr. Bradford. Rev. Mr. Marsh, Rev. Mr. Prentice, Rev. 
Sylvester Burt, Rev. Ralph Emerson, are all mentioned as delivering 
sermons on these occasions, alw^ays passing a vote of thanks and 
presenting them witli from $6 to $10. 

The regular hour for all communications was at 10 a. m., occa- 
sionally at 2 p. m., but not often at that hour. The attendance at 



388 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

these festivals was large. Their bills were quite considerable and 
were usually paid by the brethren, usually paying the minister from 
the treasury. The bills are often itemized on the records. I will 
give you one as a sample; it was at the celebration of St. John the 
Baptist at Canaan, June 10th, 1818. I copy it verbatim from the 
record :— 

Paid Mr. Pomeroy for Liquors, $35.23 
Paid Mr. Pomeroy for 72 Meals, 72.00 
" For Music hired. 6.00 
" Warner's Bill for Ribbon, 3.32 
" 13 Female Singers, 13.00 
" Providing for them at Mr. Finn's, 5.80 
" 7 Clergymen and Wives, 7.00 
Voted from the treasury to the Rev. Mr. Bradford who deliv- 
ered the sermon, 10.00 



Total, $152.35 

Then this entry: "Paid of the above by visiting brethren, 
$51.84." 

They were evidently much more strict in discipline than most 
lodges are at the present time. One brother expelled for excessive 
indulgence in spirits, charges preferred against another for not pay- 
ing his bills more promptly, receiving a sharp reprimand from the 
Master with the assurance that he would be suspended unless he 
reformed in this matter. They had a temperance committee to look 
after and see that none of the brethren made improper use of liquor. 

The lodge was very prosperous. All regular communications were 
largely attended and many specials were held. Propositions were 
very numerous; hardly a meeting was held without several being 
received and they were the influential and leading men of all these 
four towns. 

Apparently one great source of annoyance to them was the col- 
lecting of interest upon money loaned. Brother Michael F. Mills 
was their attorney, and I should judge that his success in getting 
either interest or principal was many times very unsatisfactory. I 
have heard of no trouble in placing the surplus in our treasury since 
I have been a member. 

April 7, 1816, a petition from a number of brethren in Winchester 
and Torrington was received, praying that a new lodge might be 
established in Torrington. Voted not to approve of the petition for 
a new lodge in our jurisdiction. Brother Joseph Battell and Eleazur 
Holt were appointed to oppose it at the Grand Lodge. 

June 13th, 1817, Seneca Lodge, No. 55, at Torrington was char- 
tered with thirty-five charter members, a large majority of whom 
were members of Western Star. Israel Coe, one of the charter 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 389 

members from St. Paul Lodge at Litchfield, lived to be 97 years 
old. He has been dead but a few years. Doubtless some here re- 
member him. This new lodge took many of Western Star's promi- 
nent members. Such men as Clarence Humphrey, Joseph D. Hum- 
phrey, Truman Wetmore, Samuel Hurlbut, Lemuel Hurlbut, John 
Wetmore, Elisha Hinsdale, Leonard Hurlbut and John McAlpine 
were among the charter members. I have not been able to find a 
record of the line of jurisdiction between this and Seneca Lodge 
as established at that time, but have no doubt that it included Tor- 
rington, Winchester and Colebrook, as many of its charter mem- 
bers were residents of those towns. 

May 14th, 1823, St. Andrew's Lodge, No. 64, was chartered, the 
two lodges taking from the jurisdiction of Western Star more than 
one-half of its territory and a very large per cent, of its members. 

May 17th, 1869, our territory was again divided, and about one- 
half of our remaining jurisdiction and members went from us, when 
Housatonic Lodge, No. 61, received its charter with twenty-four 
charter members. 

Thus it will seem that these large numbers going from us have 
greatly reduced our numbers and somewhat crippled the old lodge, 
leaving the few remaining members at times almost disheartened 
and discouraged. 

In April, 1827, a committee was appointed to draft a petition 
to the Grand Lodge requesting that Colebrook be set back to this 
lodge. Nothing more is heard of it upon the records, but it looks 
as though the petition was granted, as in 1835 in the dark days of 
Masonry the lodge voted to divide the money in the treasury be- 
tween Norfolk, Colebrook and Canaan, in proportion to its mem- 
bers: Norfolk, $42; Colebrook, $15; Canaan, $27. At this meeting 
they voted to place all the books, notes and other property of the 
lodge in the hands of the treasurer, and that the furniture of the 
lodge be placed in charge of the Senior Warden for safe keeping. 

These were indeed 'dark days.' Occasionally meetings were 
held, officers elected and some routine business transacted. In 1838 
several communications were held. Richard Tibbals and Warren 
Brown were received. These two were the only additions to the 
lodge for a period of some thirty years from 1829; but little was 
done until about 1860, since which time all of the present mem- 
bers have been received, and the records show that very few com- 
munications have been omitted. 

Old and feeble as we are, we, like most parents, take great pride 
in our children, who have been so prosperous and are now so strong 
and vigorous; and it is a great pleasure to us to have so many rep- 
resentatives of the three families with us upon this our centennial 
anniversary, and our hope is that the fraternal feeling which now 



390 HISTORY OF NOEFOLK. 

exists, and, I think, ever has existed, may continue so long as the 
sun shall rule the day and the moon govern the night." 

"A SKETCH OF NORFOLK, CONNECTICUT." 

A small pamphlet bearing the above title, published in 
1886 by "S. H. D.," found in the Norfolk Library, contains 
many historical facts and items of interest, from which 
some quotations will be made. 

"Norfolk is situated in the northwestern part of the 
state, on the line of the "Hartford and Conn. Western Rail- 
road, and is fast becoming one of the most popular inland 
summer resorts in Connecticut The summit of the railroad 
is reached about one mile and a half south of the village, 
at an elevation of 1336 feet above the sea. Beautiful 
scenery, pure mountain air, and freedom from malaria, con- 
stitute some of the chief attractions of thg place for city 
visitors." 

"Fine educational advantages are afforded by the Eob- 
bins School, founded by descendants of the first pastor of 
the Congregational Church, and bearing his name. It is 
built on the former site of the old Bobbins homestead. 

"The Shepard homestead is an old land-mark, Capt. John 
A. Shepard having kept a hotel there for many years, in the 
days when the stage coach rumbled over our hills. Nor- 
folk being on the line of the old Hartford and Albany turn- 
pike, the old Inn was a busy place. 

A sketch of Norfolk would be incomplete without men- 
tion of the library and picture gallery of Mr. Bobbins Bat- 
tell, at his residence, containing a fine collection of paint- 
ings, chiefly by American artists. The large painting by 
Thomas Hovendon, "Last Moments of John Brown," is 
very lifelike and pathetic. Standing on the steps of the 
jail, and surrounded by a guard of soldiers, the old hero 
is bending to kiss a little child, a member of the down- 
trodden race for whose sake he died. While looking upon 
the pictured face of John Brown, as he is led to the scaf- 
fold, these words, written of him during his imprisonment, 
by Ralph Waldo Emerson, were brought to mind: "The 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 391 

saint, whose fate yet hangs in suspense, but whose martyr- 
dom if it shall be perfected, will make the gallows glorious 
like the Cross." Most of the pictures are landscape views 
of great beauty, seeming almost like bits of nature trans- 
ferred to canvas. F. E. Church, Bierstadt, and many other 
artists of note, are represented in the collection. 

"Bald Mountain, the highest point of land in Norfolk, 
has an elevation of 1763 feet. A quarry on the side of the 
mountain affords a fine quality of granite, from which a 
block weighing nearly sixteen tons was taken and used in 
completing the Hoosac Tunnel. 

Haystack Mountain, 1633 feet above the sea, commands 
a magnificent prospect, the most extensive in town. The 
Bolton range, fifteen miles east of Hartford, Talcott, Ivy, 
and Mohawk mountains toward the south. Bear mountain 
in Salisbury, the highest point of land in Connecticut, 2355 
feet above the sea; mountains and valleys of Canaan, and 
extended views in Berkshire County, Mass., are all included. 
A tower has been erected on Haystack mountain. A car- 
riage road to the summit has also been constructed this 
season, which is a great convenience to tourists, rendering 
the ascent much easier for pedestrians. 

A curious custom which was observed by the boys of 
fifty years ago may be of interest to the boys of the present 
time. This was the annual "raising of the Monument," as 
it was called, on Haystack. The day preceding Fast day, 
a quaiitity of brush was collected, formed in the shape of 
an image, or "bush man," and securely bound to a pole. In 
the evening it was conveyed to the summit of Haystack, 
where it was raised and lashed to a tree in some place 
where it could be seen from the village, and if it remained 
undisturbed through the night, it was hailed as a good 
omen, insuring an abundant crop of corn the ensuing sea- 
son. A gentleman now residing in town, and who assisted 
at the last "raising of the Monument," says that the cus- 
tom was abandoned about the year 1839." 

"West Norfolk is a pleasant little village, nestling cosily 
at the foot of the mountains. From the side of the moun- 



392 HISTOKY OF NORFOLK. 

tain east of the schoolhouse, a view which is not surpassed 
in beauty in any part of the town can be seen by those who 
will take the trouble to climb high enough. Looking west- 
ward down the pleasant valley, Blackberry river flashing 
in the sunlight, and flowing through green meadows 
guarded by mountains, wends its way to the fair and happy 
land of Canaan, where it joins the Housatonic. The beau- 
tiful blue mountains of Salisbury in the distance complete 
a picture which all lovers of fine scenery must admire." 



XXIV. 

THE ROBBINS FAMILY — BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF REV. MR. ROBBINS, 

BY HIS SON. 

"The Rev. Ammi Ruhamah Robbins, son of Rev. Philemon Rob- 
bins, Pastor of the first church in Branford, was born in that town, 
August 25th, O. S. 1740. His early education was under the care 
of his father till the autumn of 1756, when he was received as a 
member of the College at Princeton in New Jersey. In the follow- 
ing spring, in consequence of the death of President Burr, he re- 
moved his College relation, and was admitted to the same stand- 
ing in Yale College. In Sept., 1700, he was admitted to the degree 
of A. B., and to the degree of A. M. in September, 1763. He was 
licensed to preach the gospel in June, 1761, and on the 28th of Oc- 
tober of the same year he was ordained the Pastor of this Church. 
On the 13th of May, 1762, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Le 
Baron of Plymouth, by whom he had thirteen children. The four 
first died in infancy, and one September, 1777. The remaining 
eight with their mother survived him. His ministry was much 
blessed, as may appear from the record of admissions to the church. 
He never received persons to a public profession of religion, but 
upon a charitable evidence of personal grace. In 1804 the mem- 
bers of the church amounted to 237: males, 91; females, 146. In 
1801 the number was about 250. 

On the first Sabbath of May, 1813, he preached in usual health, 
administered the ordinance of the Supper. That weels he was talien 
with a painful disease in his face, which eventually became a large 
painful tumor. On the Sabbath May 23d he went to public wor- 
ship; near the close of the exercise, baptized two children and made 
a short address and prayer in view of parting with the first meet- 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 393 

ing-house, which was taken down that week. This was the last 
public service he performed. His disorder continued to increase and 
baffled all medical assistance, and terminated in his death Sab- 
bath evening, October 31st, 1813. During his sickness he mani- 
fested great submission to the divine will, and an increasing confi- 
dence in his Christian hope. Towards the close of life he was car- 
ried above the pains of death, and had great joy in the prospect 
of immortality and the eternal presence of Christ. He died in the 
presence of all his family and many of his people, and had appar- 
ently an easy passage to the eternal state. In his person he was 
short, his body thick, muscular and uncommonly active. His com- 
plexion dark; his countenance pleasant and animated; his voice 
clear, musical and strong. In his deportment he was affable and 
obliging, possessing an easy and uniform flow of animal spirits; 
desirous of doing good to all, especially of leading his fellow sin- 
ners to a clear view of his much loved Savior. "Blessed are the 
dead who die in the Lord." '• Moestissime scripsi.'' 

T. Robbins." 

Frequent and extended mention is made of Mr. Robbins 
in this volume, as a teacher of young men for nearly fifty 
years, as chaplain in the army during the revolutionary 
war, and as the pastor of th6 church for more than half a 
century. So many of Mr. Bobbins' descendants have been, 
during all the generations that have succeeded him, and still 
are very prominent in the affairs of the town, that the name 
Robbins has ever been a household word here, and by the 
"Robbins School" is sure to be perpetuated. 

One of the old inhabitants who remembered Mr. Robbins 
well, wrote as his remembrance of him the following: "He 
was not a very large man; was rather short and fleshy; 
he wore what was called a cocked hat, short breeches, knee- 
buckles, and in summer low shoes and shoe buckles, and 
black stockings. He wore a ministerial frock coat with a 
"waistcoat" that buttoned up to his neck, not showing the 
ruffled shirt, worn by many in his day. He had eight chil- 
dren who lived to maturity, six sons and two daughters." 

At the time of the completion of the meeting-house in 
1814, soon after the death of their beloved pastor, the 
church obtained a communion table, which stood in front 
of the pulpit until the house was re-modelled in 1846. Upon 



394 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

the marble top of this table the following inscription was 
carved : 

" REVEREND AMMI R. ROBBINS, 
A FAITHFUL MINISTER OF HIS BLESSED LORD. HE WAS BORN AT 
BRANFORD, AUGUST 25, 1740, O. S., AND GRADUATED AT YALE COLLEGE 
1760. AT THE AGE OF 21 HE WAS ORDALNED THE FIRST PASTOR OF 
THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN NORFOLK. HE LIVED TO BURY ALL THAT 
CAULED HIM TO THE CHARGE, AND WITH THE ANXIOUS FEELINGS OF A 
FATHER, ADDRESSED HIS FLOCK AS CHILDREN. HE WAS HUMBLE, YET 
ZEALOUS ; PEACEABLE, YET BOLD IN HIS MASTER'S CAUSE. IN ALL THE 
DUTIES OF HIS OFFICE HE WAS SINCERE, TENDER, AND AFFECTIONATE. 
HIS DOCTRINE AND HIS LIFE REFLECTED CREDIT ON EACH OTHER, AND 
IN HIS DEATH HE STRIKINGLY EXEMPLIFIED THAT RESIGNATION TO 
THE DIVINT; will which he steadily PREACHED TO OTHERS. WHEN 
CALLED FOR HE SAID, LET ME GO AND RECEIVE MERCY. HE DIED ON 
THE 31ST DAY OF OCTOBER, 1813, AGED 73." 

After the death of Mrs. Eobbins, the following inscrip- 
tion was also placed upon this memorial table: 

"MADA3I ELIZABETH ROBBINS: RELICT OF REV. AMMI R. ROBBINS, DIED 
SEPTEMBER 28, 1829, AGED 83." 

This tablet was in 1846 placed in a permanent manner in 
the cemetery, over the graves of Mr. and Mrs. Bobbins, 
where it may now be found. 

Eoys inserted in his history of the town the following: 
"Memoir of Madam Elizabeth Bobbins. 

"Mrs. Robbins died September 28th, 1829, aged 84. Mr. Emer- 
son remarked in his discourse at her funeral: 'Her last sickness 
was very short, terminating in the compass of two days. The faith 
which she manifested on this occasion, appeared truly the sub- 
stance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. 
In giving a character of this aged and pious matron I would say, 
her vivacity was remarkable, tempered and guided by truth and 
piety. It was as useful as it was entertaining. It delightfully min- 
gled the animation and charm of youth with the sedateness of age,— 
the life of spring with the ripeness and serenity of autumn. 

Her capacity and readiness to entertain the numerous guests 
of the family, when the duties of the study demanded the seclusion 
of her faithful partner, are well known. Her knowledge of the- 
ology, especially in its practical bearings, was extensive and highly 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 395 

useful. Perhaps ere this, she has received a crown sparkling with 
the memorial of many a deed the world never saw, and of which 
herself has to say, 'Lord, when was this, or why is it thus esteemed 
by thee?' 

The last friendly act performed for her was September 30th, 
when she was placed in the silent grave by the side of her husband, 
there to wait the re-animating call of the archangel." 

From a letter written by a granddaughter of Mr. Bobbins, 
Mrs. Mary Robbins-Kasson, of Des Moines, Iowa, July, 
1900, addressed to this writer, we quote: 

"My grandfather lost four children in infancy. The next was 
Uncle Ammi Ruhamah; he was a farmer and lived in Colebrook. 
He married Salome Hale. They had a son, James Watson Robbins, 
who was a Doctor and practiced in Uxbridge, Mass. They had a 
daughter, Elizabeth, who married Lewis Allen of Colebrook, and 
lived with Uncle Ammi. 

The next of grandfather's children was Elizabeth. She married 
Grove Lawrence. Her children were James Robbins Lawrence, a 
noted lawyer of Syracuse, N. Y. Next, Eliza Lawrence, married 
first, Henry Olmsted, and second. Dr. Timothy J. Gridley, of Am- 
herst. Then Grove Lawrence; he was a lawyer, married Sarah Ben- 
nett. Then Sarah Lawrence; she lived many years with our grand- 
mother, and married first. Rev. Eben L. Clark; second, L. Z. New- 
comb. 

The fifth was "William Lawrence. He was a long time in Uncle 
Battell's store, and lived in his family. He married Caroline Au- 
gusta Rockwell. The sixth, Francis Le Baron Lawrence, I never 
knew. He lived in Canada. 

My Aunt Elizabeth also married a Mr. Grant, and had a daugh- 
ter, Anna Elizabeth Grant. 

Then there was a son of grandfather's, Nathaniel Robbins. I 
never knew him. He died at Sag Harbor, Michigan. 

Uncle Thomas Robbins was a minister, and antiquarian. He 
gathered a valuable library, now in the Hartford Athenaeum. He 
never married. 

Next, Sarah Robbins, married Joseph Battell. 

Next, James Watson Robbins, was a merchant at Lenox, Mass. 
Mr. Emerson said he had more brains than the other brothers. His 
health was not equal to the work of the ministry, for which he 
was fitted. Three of his sons spent each a summer on my father's 
beautiful farm in Onondaga County, N. Y., to learn farming. They 
were Ammi, George, and Edward. I think it was very kind in my 
mother to care for them, when she had seven children of her own, 
but father felt he could not refuse uncle James anything. 



396 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

The next, Samuel Robbins, was my father. He married Fanny 
Osborne. 

The last was Francis Le Baron Robbins. He preached all his 
life at Enfield, Conn. He married his cousin, Priscilla Le Baron. 
She was a widow, her first husband being a sea Captain, Alden. 
Uncle had no children. She had two Alden boys. 

Uncle wanted me to come and stay a year with him. I went 
there from Norfolk and staid three weeks, but I was so homesick 
he couldn't persuade me to remain, and I spent the rest of the sum- 
mer with the Osborne's. Mother's brother was Judge Osborne of 
Fairfield, Conn. 

When I was at Norfolk the brothers had a family meeting at 
Aunt Battell's. Uncle James and wife. Uncle Frank and wife, 
Uncle Thomas with his silver knee buckles and snowy hair, and 
my father. Uncle Ammi was confined at home by rheumatism, so 
they all went over to see him at Colebrook, and they all went to 
visit the grave of their venerated sire. With patriarchal grace 
Uncle Thomas placed his hand on my head and said, 'so this is 
brother Samuel's daughter.' He was a very courtly gentleman." 

Kilbourne's Litchfield Biography says: "General James R. Law- 
rence was a native of Norfolk, but a resident of Syracuse, N. Y.; 
was a member of the Legislature in 1825, '38, '39 and '40. Judge 
of the County Court in 1847, and United States Attorney for the 
Northern District of New York. His brother. Grove, also of Syra- 
cuse, was First Judge of the County Court, for several years, from 
1838." 

REV. THOMAS ROBBINS, D. D. 

(Fbom the Inteodtjotion to 'Thi Diaby of Thomas Robbins.') 

"Thomas Robbins, son of Rev. Ammi R., and Elizabeth Le 
Baron-Robbins, was born in this town August 11, 1777. 

The earliest American ancestor in his paternal line was Richard 
Robbins, of Cambridge, who came from England to this country as 
early as 1639, settling first at Charlestown, but soon removing to 
Cambridge, Massachusetts. From him the order of descent was 
through Nathaniel, born in Cambridge, 1649; Nathaniel, born in 
Cambridge, 1678; Philemon, born in Cambridge, 1709, a graduate 
of Harvard College, 1729, and the life-long pastor at Branford, Con- 
necticut, 1732 to 1781; and Ammi Ruhamah, father of Thomas. 

On the maternal side. Dr. Robbins traced his line directly back 
to Governor William Bradford, of Plymouth, Massachusetts. This 
line ran through William Bradford, Jr., son of the Governor by his 
second wife, Alice South worth, nee Carpenter; then through David, 
son of William and Mary Holmes, nee Atwood. A daughter of 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. • 397 

David and Mary was Lydia Bradford, born December 23, 1719. By 
her marriage the name Le Baron was brought into this maternal 
line. The story connected with this name is curious and romantic: 
In the year 1694, a French Privateer, hovering around our 
shores to capture vessels loaded with grain, was wrecked near the 
upper end of Buzzard's Bay, and the men on board were rescued 
and taken off as prisoners of war. This was in the reign of Wil- 
liam III. The Treaty of Ryswick brought peace in 1697. The sur- 
geon on board this French Privateer was Francis Le Baron. In 
the transfer of these prisoners from the head of Buzzard's Bay to 
Boston, a halt was made at Plymouth. On the day of their ar- 
rival, it so happened that a woman of Plymouth had met with 
an accident, causing a compound fracture of one of her limbs. The 
local physicians decided that the limb must be amputated, but Dr. 
Le Baron asked permission to examine the fracture, and decided 
that he could save the limb, which he did. This led to a petition 
on the part of the Selectmen of Plymouth to the public authorities, 
asking that Dr. Le Baron might be released, to become a physician 
and surgeon at Plymouth. The request was granted. He went 
there in 1694; married in 1695 Mary Wilder, a native of Hingham, 
Massachusetts, and became the father of three sons: James, Lazarus 
and Francis. This Lazarus Le Baron, in 1743, married for his sec- 
ond wife Lydia Bradford, named above, daughter of David. As 
the wife of Dr. Lazarus Le Baron, she was the mother of seven 
children, the second of whom was Elizabeth, the wife of Rev. Am- 
mi R. Robbins, and the mother of Thomas, and others. 

Thomas Robbins was fitted for college in his own home. His 
father's house was an Academy for Northwestern Connecticut in 
those early years, where many boys pursued their preparatory 
studies. The country minister of that day was also a farmer. 

At the age of fifteen he was fitted for college, and was entered 
at Yale, in 1792. President Stiles died in May, 1795, and President 
Dwight was inaugurated in September of the same year. Wil- 
liams College had been organized and the Norfolk minister had 
been made one of the early trustees. In 1795 Williams graduated 
her first class, and in the autumn of that year. Rev. Mr. Robbins 
desired his son to remove from Yale to Williams, and pursue his 
senior studies there, in order to show a practical interest in the 
infant college at Williamstown. He did so, and the matter was so 
fixed that after his graduation at Williams, September 7, 1796, he 
went the following week to New Haven, and was graduated with 
his Yale classmates September 14, of the same year. 

In Williams College January first, 1796, Thomas Robbins be- 
gan his Diary, which he continued with some small breaks until 
1854,— nearly fifty-eight years. This diary, edited and annotated 



398 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

by Mr. Increase N. Tarbox, of West Newton, Mass., was printed 
by Robbins Battell and Miss Anna Battell, in two large volumes 
In 1886, and from a sketch of Mr. Robbins in the first volume, most 
of the facts concerning him are gathered for this sketch. 

He taught school and studied theology, and in September, 1798, 
he was licensed to preach by the Litchfield North Association. He 
made a long horseback journey during 1799 through Vermont, 
preaching as he went. He taught and preached in Danbury, Conn., 
and vicinity for some two years. Then he went on a long mis- 
Bionary journey through the new settlements in New York, return- 
ing in August, 1802. In May, 1803, he was ordained to go in the 
service of the Connecticut Missionary Society to the new settle- 
ments on the Western Reserve, in Ohio, and returned from this 
service in 1806, seriously broken in health, so that for a year or 
two he was unable to resume ministerial labor. 

In the summer of 1808 he commenced preaching in East Windsor, 
Connecticut; was installed there in May, 1809, and his ministry 
there continued until September, 1827. It was in East Windsor that 
he began to collect his library, which became one of the large pri- 
vate libraries of his generation. This library is in the Wadsworth 
Athenaeum in Hartford, in the rooms of the Connecticut Historical 
Society, 

Some two years after leaving Windsor he was called to Matta- 
poisett. in the town of Rochester, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, 
to assist his uncle. Rev. Lemuel Le Baron, who had been pastor 
there nearly sixty years. He was installed there October, 1832. His 
imcle died Novembei*, 1836, in his ninetieth year, and in the sixty- 
fifth of his ministry. Dr. Robbins continued as pastor there until 
1844. 

In 1844, Dr. Robbins had reached his sixty-seventh year; 
had been teaching and preaching nearly forty-six years. 
In that year an arrangement was made, chiefly through the 
agency of Hon. Henry Barnard of Hartford, by which Dr. 
Kobbins' library was to become the property of the Con- 
necticut Historical Society, and he himself was to become 
the Society's Librarian, on a stipulated salary, through the 
remaining years of his active life. This position he grace- 
fully and honorably filled for ten years. In 1854, the in- 
firmities of age came upon him, and he was obliged to close 
his diary and retire from all public duties. He lingered 
until September 1.3, 18.56, when he passed away peacefully 
at the house of Mrs. Elizabeth-Robbins-Allen of Colebrook, 



HISTORY OF XORFOLK. 399 

the daughter of his brother, Ammi Ruhamah Bobbins. Dr. 
Bobbins never married, yet the diary shows that in his 
early manhood the subject of matrimony was much in his 
thoughts. In 1838, while at Mattapoisett, he received the 
degree of D. D. from Harvard College. 

The following interesting reminiscences were kindly 
written for this volume by Mrs. Mary Bobbins Kasson of 
Des Moines, Iowa. She is the grand-daughter of Bev. Ammi 
B. Bobbins, the first minister in this town, and so by only 
two steps takes us back to the very beginning of the town: 

Des Moines, July, 1900. 
. "I am eighty-two years old this month; the 
eldest child of Samuel Bobbins. I was born in my grand- 
father's old parsonage, the first framed house in Norfolk, 
in which my grandfather lived all the fifty-two years of his 
pastorate. When the Bev. Balph Emerson succeeded my 
grandfather, he came there, a bachelor, to board, and when 
he married Miss Bockwell of Colebrook, my father and 
mother attended his wedding. Later he was called to An- 
dover, and Dr. Joseph Eldridge succeeded him. He 
preached in Norfolk forty-two years, and his wife was my 
cousin, Sarah Battell. Both were very popular. I visited 
in Norfolk in 1837, and spent two weeks with them in 
grandpa's old home. It was then standing in good repair 
where now are the buildings of the Bobbins School. Mr. 
Eldridge had a gentle horse, named Calvin, and Sarah used 
to take me with her to call on their parishioners. Anna 
drove over with me to Uncle Ammi's. He was a farmer, 
grandpa's eldest son, and proud to show his famous cheese 
of 50 lbs. each. His wife was Salome Hale, a relative of 
the martyr, Nathan Hale. His only son was a physician 
and a noted botanist, who fitted General Lee for West 
Point, and during the civil war Lee gave him a pass through 
his lines on a botanical excursion to Louisiana and Cuba. 
While at Norfolk, Anna, John and I had old Calvin to 
drive up to Lenox, and visit our Uncle James. He was a 
merchant in Lenox, and married there a daughter of old 
General Eggleston. Their home is still in their family, 



400 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

being owned by their daughter, the widow of Professor 
Schenk of Princeton, N. J. Aunt Maria, the wife of James 
Robbins, and her other daughter, met a tragic fate, both 
being killed in the terrible Norwalk railroad disaster, in 
1853. I was told that their funeral was the largest ever 
held in Berkshire County. 

Don't forget to note from Uncle Thomas Bobbins' Diary 
his purchase of the Elder Brewster chest, brought over in 
the Mayflower, and the gift to him of a magnificent copy 
of the Bishop's Bible from the Duke of Sussex, with an 
autograph letter, of both of which he was exceeding proud. 
Uncle Thomas always wore the old-fashioned 'small 
clothes.' He and one other antiquarian of Hartford; — 
Judge Camp of Litchfield, told me he had seen those two 
venerable patriarchs in the Athenaeum, eating their bread 
and cheese off the lid of that old Brewster chest, on which 
the famous 'Compact' was written and signed in the 'May- 
flower.' 

My father told me he helped to plant those ancient elms 
around 'the green.' He told me of the wolf hunt on Hay- 
stack mountain, when the wolves troubled their choice 
'merinos.' The hunters had drawn together in a compact 
circle, and the desperate wolf, completely surrounded, 
dashed out between one man's legs. Father used to tell of 
his father examining a school teacher. He set him to read 
the line, "The quality of mercy is not strained." The poor 
fellow read it over three times; first, he emphasized 'qual- 
ity'; then, fearing he was wrong, he tried 'mercy,' and 
finally, 'not strained.' Let us hope he won his certificate. 

In old times, Norfolk had plenty of stones. Perhaps it 
has still. There was a General Mills visiting there, from his 
beautiful home at Mt. Morris, on the Genesee flats. As he 
looked at the stones he said emphatically, 'I never was out 
of sight of land before.' My Uncle Battell was a Mason. 
At a feast, in all his regalia, he was carving, when the bird 
slid bodily into his lap. With the greatest sang froid he 
gathered it up in his apron, declaring he had not known 
before the worth and use of such an indispensable article. 



HISTOKY OF NORFOLK. 401 

Grandmother was the grand-daughter of Dr. Francis Le 
Baron, a French emigrant and a Huguenot. Her mother 
was Lydia Bradford LeBaron, great granddaughter of the 
famous Governor Bradford. When they crossed my cousin, 
Urania Battell's, Puritanical traditions or training, she 
was wont to say, 'Huguenot and Mayflower can't go this.' 

Grandmother was but a young girl when grandfather 
brought her, a bride, from old Plymouth, with her rich 
brocades; and she told my mother she was so homesick she 
used to climb up the tallest stump and look toward old 
Plymouth and cry. Poor girl! at this late day I can pity 
her. But what a worthy help-meet she made, all those 
fifty-two years; raised up a family of six stalwart sons and 
two fair daughters; helped to care for the hundred students 
that during all that time he was fitting for college; "looked 
well to the ways of her household," and entertained with 
generous hospitality the clerical visitors and the frequent 
guests. People journeyed then in their private conveyance, 
often the one-horse shay, and she told mother she always 
kept a choice pie on hand for the stranger guest. 

I have a friend living here whose father, Seymour Wat- 
son, born in Norfolk, used to run the old Canaan and Hart- 
ford express. He died here some two years ago, aged 
eighty, and his wife, born Phebe Spalding, died on her 
birthday last August, eighty-one, just eleven days younger 
than I. She bought her wedding dress of my Uncle Bat- 
tell. Uncle Battell was a very shrewd and successful mer- 
chant. At one time he had a quantity of cheese that he 
had bought in all the towns around Norfolk, that had 
reached New York. He wrote his agent there to ship it 
to Richmond, Va., in a certain vessel. The letter did not 
reach the agent in time, — there were no telegraphs then, — 
so he put it on board the next sailing vessel. The first 
vessel was wrecked and its cargo lost. The market was 
bare of cheese, and when Uncle's arrived he realized a hand- 
some advance. He seldom lost, being very sagacious. 
When the Eagle bank failed in New Haven, he had be- 
come suspicious of its management; he was in New York 



402 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

arranging to dispose of his stock, when the boat came in 
and announced the failure. He lost a large sum at that 
time. Uncle owned a vast amount of Ohio land, and every 
year he used to go by stage from Norfolk to Ohio to look 
after it. He always took one daughter with him, and would 
reach our place to spend the Sabbath. Cousin Irene Battell 
was the beautiful one of the family. I once heard Uncle 
James tell father that he, who was quite a traveller, had 
never seen so beautiful a woman as Irene. It was her in- 
fluence that persuaded her brother Joseph to give that 
princely donation to Yale College that made Battell Chapel 
possible. Then, too, she was, as Professor Gustave Stoeckel 
says in her memorial, 'an unrivalled soprano singer.' It is 
no wonder her father and the family were so proud of her. 
Grandpa Bobbins had a sister who was the wife 
of Rev. Peter Starr, who was for more than fifty years the 
minister in Warren, Conn. My father taught school in 
Warren once. The Starrs were a noted family. One of 
them, Chandler, a cousin of father's, was a merchant in 
New York. Another one, Philemon, a wealthy bachelor, I 
met at Aunt Battell's. Grandfather was very fond of 
music. Mother told me that when on his deathbed the 
family sang, he noticed a mistake in the tune and corrected 
it. Uncle Frank was a fine singer and remarkably gifted 
in prayer. He insisted that all the congregation should 
stand through the long prayer, and at times it was as long 
as the sermon. 

Of our family, the four girls all married ministers. Susan 
was a missionary in Southern India. My three sisters are 
all dead now. My eldest brother, a graduate of Yale, was 
a skilful doctor. He studied in Paris a year, and was 
ofifered a medical professorship in New York City, and died, 
greatly lamented, in Glendale, a suburb of Cincinnati. It 
was a crushing blow to mother. I have two brothers living. 
Thomas lives at Pittsburgh, Penn., a retired capitalist in 
feeble health. Both brothers have travelled extensively in 
Europe and the Holy Land." 

Of the other living brother, referred to by Mrs. Kasson, 
a friend says: 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 403 

"Francis Le Baron Robbins, clergyman, born in Camillus, Onon- 
daga County, New York, May 2, 1830. He was graduated at Wil- 
liams College in 1854; studied theology at Auburn Seminary, and in 
1860 was ordained to the ministry, and installed as pastor of a 
Presbyterian church in Philadelphia. He founded the Oxford Pres- 
byterian Church in that city, which was dedicated in 1869, and be- 
came the pastor, resigning the office in 1883. During his pastorate 
the church edifice, one of the handsomest in the city, and which 
had been constructed through his efforts, was destroyed by fire. 
Through Dr. Robbins' efforts a new building was erected. After 
resigning he travelled extensively in Europe, and on his return took 
up the work of founding a church in Kensington, the centre of the 
manufacturing district of Philadelphia. In this he succeeded, and 
in 1886 the Beacon Presbyterian Church was dedicated. Connected 
with it is a reading-room, and a hall, where lectuTes on travel, art, 
sanitation, and other popular and timely themes are delivered, and 
class-rooms for instruction in mechanical arts, music, drawing, ora- 
tory, and a dispensary, in which more than 3,000 patients received 
free medical attention in 1887. Dr. Robbins received the degree 
of D. D. from Union college." 

In 1896 for some months he preached as stated supply 
for the Central Presbyterian Church in Denver, Colorado, 
the pulpit at that time being vacant. More recently he 
was stated supply for several months of the North Congre- 
gational Church of Springfield, Mass., and in this last half 
of the last year of the Nineteenth Century, July, 1900, in 
the absence of the pastor in Europe, Rev. Dr. F. L. Good- 
speed, Dr. Robbins is stated supply of the 'First Congrega- 
tional,' the largest church in Springfield, Mass. He has a 
fine summer home in Greenfield, Mass. 



404 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 



XXV. 

REV. JOSEPH ELDRIDGE, D. D. 

One great object of this book is, to preserve in permanent 
form some record of the labors and lives of the men and 
women who have been, in some measure at least, helpful 
toward that which is just, and true, and of good report in 
this town, and also of the sons and daughters of Norfolk 
who have made and left a good record elsewhere. 

One who, in the opinion of the writer, is worthy of a very 
high place in this regard, not only for what he did in his 
holy calling as a Christian minister, but for his labors 
through life, in behalf of the schools of the town, in the 
general cause of education, and in every good work, in 
all that he did, the influence he exerted, the lasting 
benefits he bestowed upon the entire community, is 
Kev. Joseph Eldridge, D. D. His work was mani- 
fold; his influence was felt in all directions; his wis- 
dom and foresight were most unusual. A brief sketch of 
such a life must necessarily be very imperfect. A discourse 
"commemorative of his life and character," by President 
Noah Porter of Yale College, which was delivered May 
25th, 1875, a few weeks after his death, at the request of 
the North Consociation of Litchfield County, is given. Upon 
the day of its delivery the ministerial association took the 
following action: "Kesolved, That we have heard with 
grateful appreciation the eminently fit delineation of the 
life, character and influence of the late Dr. Eldridge by 
President Porter, and earnestly request that this tribute, 
pronounced in our hearing today, be published in such form 
and manner as will put it in the hands of his many friends, 
so widely scattered, and thus stimulate all our ministers 
and churches to nobler endeavors in the service of God." 
President Porter said: 




REV. JOSEPH ELDRIDGE, D D. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 405 

Rev. Joseph Eldridge was born In Yarmouth, Mass., July 8th, 
1804, His father was a sea captain in easy circumstances, who 
provided generously for the comfort and the culture of his family, 
without sacrificing the simplicity of their tastes or the claims of 
duty and of God. His mother was a superior woman of ardent 
piety, of large intelligence, and an enterprising spirit. By the nature 
of her husband's occupation she was forced to assume the chief 
responsibility of training her children and ordering the household. 
Of these four children our friend was the eldest, and all of the 
family have brought honor upon their parents and their name. 

Cape Cod has been known for many generations as a nursery 
of men distinguished for high professional ability, for commercial 
enterprise, for large hearted philanthropy, and for self-sacrificing 
piety. The neighborhood of the sea, with its suggestions of in- 
finitude, with its restless motion and its stirring life, with the 
coming and going of its ships— bringing strange faces and various 
products, with its stories of adventure and escape, tends to liberal- 
ize and elevate and stimulate the mind, and to ennoble the character 
when it takes a good direction. In devout men it gives ardor and 
breadth and generosity and openness to their piety, and devout 
women are trained, by their frequent separation from their hus- 
bands, to a constant sense of their dependence on God, to a fer- 
vent faith in prayer, and to habits of self-reliance, circumspection, 
and forecast. 

It was the earnest desire of Dr. Eldridge's mother that he should 
receive a liberal education and preach the gospel. I know not 
what hindered the early fulfillment of this desire. I know only 
that, for a while, he was a clerk in a grocery house in Boston, 
where his upright moral sense was offended by some of the trans- 
actions of which he was cognizant, and by some of the tempta- 
tions incident to a city life. He was subsequently sent to Phillips 
Academy in Andover, and in Sept., 1825, became a member of Yale 
College, in the Freshman year, at the age of 21 years. He was then 
a full-grown man, with much the same bearing as in later life, and 
from the first was one of the foremost men of his class, being es- 
teemed alike for his manly generosity, his superior scholarship, 
and his Christian fidelity. In his college relationships he was a 
man somewhat by himself, self-occupied and self-suflicing, but not 
unfriendly; reserved yet frank, blunt yet kindly, devoted to his 
own affairs yet always ready to respond to the claims and interests 
of others when made alive to them. His class was distinguished 
for the brilliancy of some of its members and for the spirit and 
confidence which characterized its common life. In the summer 
of 1828, near the end of his Junior year, just after the Senior class 
had been dismissed for the usual vacation of six weeks before 



406 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

commencement, this class distinguished its accession to the head- 
ship of the college, by abandoning the commons hall with nearly 
all the students, to express the general dissatisfaction with the food 
which was furnished. The movement at first view seemed not in- 
defensible, but it was properly regarded by the Faculty as a com- 
bination to disturb the authority and good order of the institution 
which could not for a moment be tolerated. The students were ad- 
monished and reasoned with; subsequently they were formally re- 
quired to return to their places in the hall as an act of obedience. 
The order was as distinctly and deliberately disobeyed by nearly 
the whole number concerned. The regular studies were soon sus- 
pended, and the students were assembled in frequent conferences 
in which they earnestly discussed the attitude which they should 
assume and the measures which they should adopt to justify them- 
selves before their parents and friends and the community. Dr. 
Eldridge was absent from town when the incipient measures were 
taken for leaving the commons hall, and for two or three days 
after the first decisive step had been resolved upon. It was under- 
stood that he was neither cognizant of, nor a party to, the begin- 
ning of the movement. On returning to college from a visit to his 
relatives he found the college all ablaze with excitement. On 
learning the condition of things he at once gave in his adhesion to 
the common cause. I was then a boy and a looker on, but I can 
see him now as he stood in the old Theological Chamber, which 
was filled with a swaying and surging crowd of excited young 
men, and assured them of the justice of their cause and the sure 
promise of its success. His age and sobriety and scholarship and 
Christian conscientiousness gave no little weight to his position, 
and confirmed many of the timid and distrustful among the younger 
and less experienced. A day or two later the crisis came. Several 
of those known to be leaders in the class and in this affair were 
sent for and warned by their instructors and friends, and among 
them was Dr. Eldridge. They were told that if they persisted they 
must eventually be expelled from the college, and most justly, for 
their direct resistance to its authority. Four men when asked 
whether they would return to their duty, distinctly declined and 
were at once expelled. Dr. Eldridge had previously come to a 
better mind and separated himself from the resistants. The others 
went to their homes, were absent some four weeks, came back on 
such terms as were imposed, and the affair was over. 

This act of Dr. Eldridge brought him prominently before the 
students as a man of sturdy allegiance to principle and of conscien- 
tious willingness to abandon an untenable position alone. It se- 
cured to him the especial friendship of many gentlemen of the Fac- 
ulty, prominent among whom were those who were subsequently 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 407 

his theological instructors. He graduated with the second honor 
of his class, and immediately entered upon his professional studies 
in the Theological Seminary of Yale College. 

On April 25th, 1832, he was ordained as a Christian minister, 
and installed as the Pastor of this church, and here he continued 
to discharge the duties of his office till having resigned his charge 
he preached his farewell sermon Nov. 1st, 1874. In the year 1853 
he was abroad for a few months upon a visit to Europe. In 1870 
he intermitted the regular routine of professional duty on account 
of severe and painful infirmity. But with these exceptions he dis- 
charged his ministerial and pastoral duties with even uniformity, 
with unabated interest, and with universal acceptance. At the 
time of his resignation he was the oldest of the pastors in active 
service in the State of Connecticut. He resigned his office from 
a regard to his own health, which had become seriously impaired, 
and from an affectionate interest in the people to whom he had 
devoted his life. He had hoped and expected to spend many years 
of tranquility and love among them and the neighboring churches. 
He died March 31st, 1875. He was called to be present with his 
Master sooner than he expected, but we cannot doubt that he has 
received from Him a welcome and a home. 

Dr. Eldridge had a strong and solid intellect. He loolied every 
subject and question squarely in the face, and his judgments were 
sagacious and penetrating. His mind was eminently comprehensive. 
His early training had formed him to the habit of looking beyond 
the conventionalities which are incident to a small and isolated 
community, and a narrow sect or party. Sea-faring men, and those 
who deal with them, are often very decided in their opinions, and 
are usually positive and bold in asserting and defending them; but 
they are usually broad-minded in their habits of thought and in- 
quiry. The comprehensiveness and sagacity of Dr. Eldridge's in- 
tellect were not, however, to be ascribed solely to his early asso- 
ciations. Had he been reared elsewhere, he would have been a 
strong, sagacious, and solid thinljer. 

His intellect was eminently practical. He had little of that 
activity which is commonly called imaginative. Though he was 
a never-tiring reader, he was not especially fond of literature as 
such. As a writer he never could bring himself to give minute 
attention to refinements of diction, or to fullness or finish of illus- 
trations, and as a reader, though by no means insensible to the 
power of eloquence and the elevation of poetry, he was especially 
interested in the matter of what he read, rather than its form. He 
delighted in facts— yet not in the spirit of the dry collector of sta- 
tistics, or the forward retailer of curious scraps of information, 
but in such facts as have an important bearing on the wealth and 



408 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

welfare of mankind— upon their true well-being in this life, and in 
the life to come. For speculation as such— whether it concerned 
theories of political economy, of government, or metaphysical the- 
ology—he had little interest. So far as either facts or theories 
were used as occasion or material for intellectual subtlety, or the 
parade of declamation, with no earnest purpose and no profitable 
result— he cared little for either. But when facts illustrated prin- 
ciples, and discussion concerned the truths which control the char- 
acter or the faith of man, no man was more alive to them than he. 
Next to theology and what related to his profession, history and 
politics interested him most. Whatever was curious in human na- 
ture, and touched upon the singular and humorous, awakened his 
responsive sympathy. In biography, and the higher order of fiction, 
he found constant delight and inspiration, and everything which 
he read in either department left a strong and delightful impres- 
sion upon his mind and memory. He was a constant and absorbed 
reader, and his range of reading was very wide. As a consequence 
his mind was always fresh, and in the most important respects 
he was well abreast of these stirring and advancing times. In the 
later years of his life, his mind was quickened rather than suffered 
to grow torpid. This may be ascribed to the generous growth of 
his mind within, to his growing assurance of the respect of others, 
to the intellectual and social excitements of his beloved children, 
and to the increased earnestness of his spiritual life. His intellect 
was never more vigorous in its activity, or more abundant in its 
fruits, than during the last ten years of his life. His example is 
valuable, as it illustrates two most important truths— that the 
clerical profession is capable of furnishing wholesome food and 
ample stimulus to the most vigorous intellect, and that a parish 
in the country is as favorable a't least to these fruits as many par- 
ishes in larger towns. That Dr. Eldridge enjoyed certain advan- 
tages of freedom from care, and of personal independence, is known 
to us all. It is perhaps more to his credit than most of us would 
acknowledge that he did not abuse these advantages to intellectual 
self-indulgence and sloth. 

As a preacher he was characterized by simplicity, good sense, 
and manly strength. He was not a fluent writer nor an easy 
speaker. He was originally better fitted for argument and debate 
than for disquisition and exhortation. When a student in college 
he was an active disputant in his college society, and during all 
his life he came up to an exciting argument with a kindled spirit 
and gathering strength. It might be said very truly of him, that 
In natural gifts and tastes he was better adapted to the bar or the 
forum than to the pulpit and the prayer-meeting. But these tastes 
and gifts by no means disqualified him for great and peculiar use- 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 409 

fulness, and for eminent influence in ttie clerical profession. There 
is abundant room and opportunity for diversities of gifts in this 
noblest of all the professions, and this was abundantly manifest 
in the instructive dlscources which he prepared for more than forty 
years, and in the awakened interest with which his fresh and unique 
trains of thought were received by his own flock, and the churches 
of this vicinity. He did not aspire to be a sensational or a so-called 
original or an often falsely-called eloquent preacher. But as he 
wrought out his own thoughts after his own method, he could not 
avoid being, in the best and in the only good sense, both original 
and, at times, eloquent. As he illustrated Christian truth by ex- 
amples drawn from his own quick observation, or images created 
by his quaint fancy, his forcible thoughts were often as fresh as 
the landscape which glitters with the morning dew. Whenever 
he was roused by some stirring theme, or was kindled into earnest 
emotion by the progress of his own argument or the solemnity of 
some great interest, his strong nature was stirred to the irrepres- 
sible utterances of truly eloquent speech. But whatever he wrote 
or spoke came from himself, and bore the unmistakable stamp of 
his own being, in thought, in diction, in illustration, in feeling, and 
pre-eminently in an indescribable manner, which he borrowed from 
no other man, and which no man could borrow from him. 

In the pulpit he was thoroughly manly, because he was thor- 
oughly himself. He could not be said to avoid every species of 
professional arts and tricks and mannerism, for it seemed impos- 
sible that he should ever contract them. Without knowing it, he 
had from the first to the last renounced the hidden things of dis- 
honesty—not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God 
deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending himself 
to evei-y man's conscience in the sight of God. While he mused, 
the fire burned; then spake he with his tongue — always clearly, 
strongly, and instructively, and not Infrequently with tender 
pathos, resistless energy, and glowing speech. His eminent suc- 
cess and his growing reputation, even after old age had begun, add 
one more testimony to many others, that the devotees of that one 
of the professions which is the noblest in its aims and the most 
elevating in its motives, should know no arts but manly arts, and 
should scorn and abhor all expedients for popularity or effect, ex- 
cept such as are approved by God because they are inspired and 
sanctioned by Christian integrity, Christian decorum, and Chris- 
tian good sense. 

Preaching and exhortation are not the only channels through 
which the intellect of the pastor is called to act. In the manifold 
relations in which he is brought into contact with his parishioners 
and the community, and under the watchful and the hesitating. 



410 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

if not the suspicious scrutiny to which he is subjected, his capacity 
for insight and judgment, his resources of wise advice and rea- 
sonable encouragement, his power to distinguish between rational 
and irrational zeal, are frequently put to the severest trial. In all 
these and the lilie opportunities of his life and trials of his intel- 
lectual capacity, I need not say that he was more than usually 
sagacious and wise. Being ready always to learn from men who 
were in many respects his inferiors, he was cautious when he had 
little knowledge, but confident after he had been taught by ex- 
perience. He deferred to the judgment of unlettered men in re- 
spect to matters in regard to which boolis and study could not 
make him wise, and was always ready to make their wisdom his 
own. Making his parishioners at first his teachers, he became 
wiser than them all, and built up for himself a position of conli- 
dence and respect which attested the soundness and sagacity with 
which he judged of men and of affairs. 

In a similar way did he apply his mind to the public relations 
of the neighboring parishes and churches, and subsequently to the 
more general interests of the kingdom of Christ. On the many 
occasions of greater or less importance on which he was called to 
think and to decide, he uniformly approved himself a wise and 
safe counsellor, who was patient in hearing, comprehensive and 
fair-minded in deliberation, and independent and fixed in his con- 
clusions. His statesman-like and judicial intellect became more 
manifest as it was disciplined and developed by the opportunities 
of later years. 

Dr. Eldridge was not only endowed with a strong and active 
intellect, but he was also a man of strong and even ardent feelings. 
He was not very demonstrative of his emotions. He was rather 
shy and reserved, but those who knew him most intimately knew 
that he could be aroused to energetic displeasure at real or fancied 
wrong against himself or others, and that his affection for those 
whom he loved glowed with an intense and inextinguishable flame. 
He may have seemed more than usually undemonstrative of feel- 
ing in speech or manner, but his feelings were constant, and ready 
to show themselves, by word or act, whenever an occasion called 
for special emotion. While by taste and training he was the farth- 
est removed from sentimentalism, the fountain of manly and ten- 
der sentiments that exists in every human soul flowed strong and 
pure in the depths of a nature that had been kept singularly pure 
from the affectations of conventionality and pretence, and seemed 
incapable of soil and alloy by the perverseness and the selfishness 
of human society. He might seem, even to his intimate friends, 
to hold himself aloof from the common-places of sympathy and 
excitement, and to be uninterested in the smaller loves and hates 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 411 

which move superficial and demonstrative natures, but those who 
knew him when his inner nature was roused by some special call, 
could not question that a strong and ardent heart had never ceased 
to beat within. 

Though naturally reserved and self-occupied. Dr. Eldridge was 
by no meaus selfish or self-indulgent. He was eminently social, 
kindly, generous, and sympathizing. He was exceptionally up- 
right and fair in his judgments of others, and indisposed to cen- 
sorious or unkindly criticism of the opinions and doings of his 
fellow men. From many of the meannesses and jealousies and 
acrimonies of human nature, it was not the less but the more to 
his credit that "his soul was like a star, and dwelt apart." He 
was tender hearted towards the suffering, sympathizing with the 
lowly and the oppressed, and eminently gentle and humane in his 
judgments and feelings. The poorest and the humblest of his 
flock received from him as ready attention and as warm a sym- 
pathy as those whose lot was more favored. His modesty could 
hardly be called a virtue, it seemed to be so natural and necessary 
a growth of the good sense and fairness which characterized his 
nature. While he scarcely needed to be admonished not to think 
of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to thinlt soberly, 
he maintained a pronounced self-respect with which no man could 
trifle. His external prosperity and ample resources did not with- 
draw him from ministering to the poorest and the least refined 
of his people, or seduce him to any superciliousness, or daintiness, 
or effeminacy, such as wealthy clergymen of weaker natures do 
not always find it easy to avoid. 

He was a truly generous man. He did not value wealth inordi- 
nately. No man could say that its temptations corrupted the sim- 
plicity of his honest aims. His friends can testify that he was 
generous in his benevolence, and that he was always ready to im- 
part to those who were in need. But he would have been untrue 
to himself and his convictions of duty had he not sought to give 
cautiously and wisely. He was especially generous and enterpris- 
ing in the cause of education. There are not a few young men 
now in the ministry and other professions, whom he has assisted 
by his counsel and sympathy and contributions to begin and per- 
severe in a course of study. This has been his favorite department 
of Christian benevolence, in which he has labored abundantly him- 
self, and into which he has incited others to enter and to con- 
tinue with generous sympathy and ample liberality. This field 
was made congenial and almost sacred to him by the example 
and zeal of his honored mother, and was none the less congenial 
because it was a field in which his efforts and sacrifices might be 
withdrawn from public notoriety. 



412 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

His Christian faith and earnestness were in harmony with his 
intellectual and emotional habits. I should rather say that a con- 
sistent and earnest Christian faith, working upon a strong and 
generous nature, can alone explain, as it alone could produce, such 
a character and such a life. His religious life was not eminently 
emotional— it could not be in consistency with the constitution of 
the man. Obedience to the will of the Heavenly Father, trust in 
his wisdom, confidence in his goodness, the honest confession of 
sin and short-comings, loving trust in Christ as the only Redeemer, 
and a practical sympathy with His life and spirit in all the char- 
acteristically Christian virtues— above all, constant fidelity to the 
spirit and aims of his profession as a Christian pastor,— these were 
the manifestations and fruits of the inner life by which he was 
controlled and cheered. As life went on, and its varied experiences 
taught each its lesson, he became more mature in his faith, more 
elevated in his feelings, more ardent in his prayers, more sym- 
pathizing and effective in his ministrations, and more spiritual in 
his desires and hopes. 

His own health, which had been so uniform and vigorous, be- 
gan to fail. Sharp attacks of suffering made him feel his de- 
pendence. Severe disappointments and protracted illnesses, and 
many deaths among his kindred and relations, brought the other 
world very near, and made the present world seem very uncer- 
tain. His return to his pulpit and his parish work was welcomed 
with a thankful heart, and he preached and labored with unwonted 
solemnity and earnestness. His retirement from the ministry, in 
the anticipation and realization, connected as it was with the death 
of the honored head and counsellor of his own kindred, foreshad- 
owed in some sort the winding up of his life. Each of these events 
made him look more distinctly upon the things which are not seen, 
and caused him to apprehend these as the only things which can- 
not be moved. They all brought him nearer to God, elevating his 
faith, kindling his hopes, and mellowing and softening his love 
for his family, his people, and the Church of God. It was notice- 
able that his heart was growing more warm, and his affections 
more tender, and his happiness more complete, till the day when 
his Master called him to that glorious vision of Himself, which 
by its cleansing and transforming power made him worthy to 
stand among the spirits of the just made perfect. 

What Dr. Eldridge was to his people, they do not need to be 
told. "V^Tiat he had desired and labored to do for them, he has 
left upon record in his farewell sermon— a sermon to which, for 
simplicity, and truthfulness, and transparent tenderness, it were 
diflBcult to find the superior among the many which are to be found 
in the annals of the churches of New England. Though nothing 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 413 

was farther from the writer's intent, yet the reader cannot fail 
to interpose between the lines this appeal to his people: "Ye are 
witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblamably 
we behaved ourselves among you that believe, as you know how 
we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a 
father doth his children, that ye would walk worthy of God, who 
hath called you unto His kingdom and glory." He did say, and 
say truly, with all the simijlicity of his heart: "I am confident 
that I have not an enemy or ill-wisher in the church, in the parish, 
or in the town, nor in the region— indeed, not in all the world; a:nd 
I know that I am an enemy to no human being, and that this 
church, this society, the people of this town, and many in this 
region have a warm and permanent place in my heart." 

He found this parish one of the most united and well ordered 
of the parishes in New England, having been singularly happy 
in the two ministers who preceded him, and happy also in the 
traditions and habits which constitute so much of the intellectual 
and spiritual strength of any community. He labored in the 
spirit of these traditions, and at once identified himself with the 
interests and welfare of his people and the whole community, giv- 
ing them his time, his sympathy, his thoughtful care for educa- 
tion and good morals, as well as for their growth in the kingdom 
of God; not seeking theirs but them, and imparting to them the 
best gifts of his mind and heart. And he has not labored in vain. 
The forty years and more which he has given to this parish, have 
not been without abundant blessings. The smplicity of his aims, 
the constancy of his labors, the wisdom of his counsels, the fidelity 
and tenderness of his exhortations, and the integrity and spiritu- 
ality of his life, have formed the characters and strengthened the 
faith, have cheered the lives and Messed the deaths and saved 
the souls of many who will forever rejoice in the pastor who led 
them to Christ, and guided their feet in the ways of Christian 
living. The influences of this long and successful pastorate will 
remain for more than another generation, as the name of this be- 
loved and honored servant of Christ shall be repeated with love 
and thankfulness. It is rare for any minister to have so good a par- 
ish as this. But it is still more rare for any parish to have so good 
a pastor, and to retain him so long. As his people review the 
blessings of the past, let it be with thankfulness for what it has 
been, and with hope and confidence that its blessed influence may 
be so cherished as to bring forth the fruits which would delight his 
heart. In this way will they most effectually honor his memory. 

I cannot but allude to the tender and touching conclusion of 
his farewell sermon, in which he anticipates the time when he 
must yield the first place in the affections of his people to his sue- 



414 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

cesser in oflBce, and to the magnanimous wisdom with which he 
charges them beforehand to transfer their confidence and love to 
another. That he knew that this event would bring some trial to 
his own feelings, bespeaks the largeness of his heart. His people 
cannot doubt that a heart so true and tender in its affection re- 
members them still, even in the heavenly temple, and will continue 
to speak peace to the flock, on whom he has expended such con- 
stant and warm affection. Let the peace and harmony and ele- 
vated Christian living which you shall exemplify, be a perpetual 
testimony to the affection which you cherish for his name. 

What Dr. Eldridge was to the Churches of this County, and 
especially of this Consociation, many of you who hear me can ap- 
preciate and set forth more fully and forcibly than myself. These 
Churches have been honored of God for the evangelical and the 
missionary spirit of their pastors since that memorable reviving 
of God's work among them which occurred a little before the end 
of the last century. The spirit of Christian love and sacrifice, when 
enlightened by education, always tends to Christian unity and 
co-operation. The free, enterprising spirit which has been fos- 
tered by the bracing air and the vigorous life of this hill-country, 
has inspired these pastors and their flocks with a fellow-feeling 
for one another's welfare. In no part of our State, and in no part 
of New England, have the Churches seemed so near to one an- 
other, however far they might seem removed by distance and the 
difficulty of access. Dr. Eldridge entered from the first most fully 
into the spirit of this fellowship, and labored from the first to sus- 
tain its traditions in their original efficiency. You are all aware 
that he took special pleasure in vindicating that organized fellow- 
ship of the Churches which has so long been maintained in Litch- 
field County, in an address at Norwich, entitled "Consociated Con- 
gregationalism," which well illustrates his practical good sense 
and his fraternal feeling. His argument is simply an enumera- 
tion of the good results of the system as he had observed its work- 
ing spirit of enlarged Christian sympathy. He had been faithful 
to the many engagements which grew out of this union of Churches; 
he had cheerfully incurred the fatigues and exposures ;vFhich were 
incident to their fulfillment. So far from excusing himself from 
these duties and sacrifices for reasons of health or convenience, 
or the remoteness of his parish, he turned the special circumstances 
of his position into arguments for a more exemplary fidelity and 
a warmer sympathy with his brethren and their Churches. His 
brethren who are here present all bear witness that he has been 
to them a faithful brother in all their discouragements and trials; 
that he has been a wise counsellor in their personal difficulties and 
in dissensions among their parishes, and has schooled himself and 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 415 

his people to stand foremost in the ranks whenever there were 
signs of discouragement or cries of alarm. As he was from the 
first, so was he to the last. After his resignation of his pastoral 
charge, he did not desire to renounce the privileges and obligations 
of fellowship to his brethren and their Churches, but formally and 
affectionately renewed his original covenant of love and hospitality 
with them as long as he should live. 

These pastors and their flocks will not soon forget these words 
and acts of friendly interest and communion; and as they are now 
and here present to pay deserved honor to the father and brother 
who has bequeathed to them such a legacy of affection and fellow- 
ship by words and deeds, they will renew over his grave and at 
each remembrance of his presence and his name, their vows of 
faithful sympathy, in the higher name of the blessed Master, in 
whom all the members of His Body are one. 

I am reminded that the only occasion on which I was ever in 
Norfolk before the burial of Dr. Eldridge was in September, 1833, 
at a meeting of the Litchfield North Association. Dr. Eldridge was 
then, I think, the youngest member. All the members of the body 
who were then present, and, I think, all who then belonged to it, 
are no more on the earth. Dr. Eldridge, who had then been pastor 
a little more than a year, was at the time of his resignation the 
only survivor of that venerable company. As I return to this 
place, and meer the representatives of the same Churches, united 
closely by the same bond and animated by the same spirit as then, 
I cannot but be reminded of the power which perpetuates the 
Christian Church from one generation to another. Nor should we 
fail to recognize the value of the labors of him ^''ho was then the 
youngest, in preserving and transmitting this fraternal spirit to 
another generation. His magnanimous manliness, which scorned 
everything narrow and mean; his lofty generosity, that could 
neituer tolerate nor understand any petty jealousies; his large- 
hearted and practical understanding, that was above all narrow 
dogmatism; his earnest and practical spirit, that sought always to 
build up and unite, and never to weaken or divide, have been a 
great power for good, for more than one generation, in all these 
Churches. 

Dr. Eldridge was also at the time of his resignation the oldest 
active pastor of this State. How universally he was respected, and 
bow enviable and unique was the place which he held in the affec- 
tion and honor of the minisiters of Connecticut, he himself was the 
last to suspect. His wise counsel, and his active sympathy in many 
boards of trust, were more and more appreciated. His eloquent 
utterances on several public occasions, when exciting topics had 
Toused his intellect, kindled his imagination and moved his heart, 



416 HISTOKY OF NORFOLK. 

TPere sometimes an astonishment to himself as well as a delight to 
all who heard him. His interest in education and his loyal affec- 
tion for his Alma Mater made him a zealous and most useful friend 
to Yale College, of TVhose Corporation he was for more than twenty- 
seven years an honored member. 

I oug'ht not to attempt to describe what Dr. Eldridge was to 
his family and in his home. His large and affectionate heart found 
here its most satisfying enjoyments and its richest rewards. As his 
children grew up before him, he was stimulated by their intellectual 
activity, he sympathized with their ardent interest in culture, and 
was refreshed and excited by their merriment. Few men have 
bad a happier home than he, and very few men have enjoyed it 
more. He sought the best things for his children— intelligence, 
usefulness, an honorable name, and, above ail, an inheritance in 
the kingdom of Christ and of God. He taught his children more 
by example than by precept; but his word when uttered was a law 
which could not be broken, and his wishes, however gently inti- 
mated, were supreme. The tenderness of his affection for wife and 
children was a quiet stream— rarely overflowing its banks— but 
always filling thetn to the full. To his relatives and kindred he 
was uniformly trustworthy and true. 

He had hoped and expected to enjoy a quiet evening of life, 
amid many enjoyments, in the alternations of pleasant activity and 
innocent relaxation, in the interchange of generous hospitality and 
sweet affection, -with hallowed worship and serene anticipations 
of heavenly rest. His friends had anticipated for him a sunny old 
age, surrounded by the people whom he had blessed so richly by 
his teaching and his example. His family had looked for the light 
nf his presence in the house which he had built, and in w'hich all 
his children had been born, and which had never been darkened 
by the shadow of death. 

The anticipated evening of his earthly life has been exchanged 
for the bright morning dawn of that life which is immortal. The 
quiet rest and sweet repose of the earthly twilight has given place 
to the serene and perfected noon of the heavenly rest. The enjoy- 
ment of the earthly friends who remain has been exchanged for 
the society of the just made perfect, among whom are numbered 
many— oh! how many— wlio were known and loved by him on 
earth. From the home which he had built and had blessed so long, 
he has passed into the building of God— the house not made with 
h.'inds— eternal in the heavens. That home will never be darkened 
by death. We cannot doubt that, content though he was to remain 
a little longer here, he is altogether satisfied to have entered the 
home that is there. His bodily presence no longer blesses his 
house nnd his household on earth, but the remembrance of what 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 417 

he was. and the thought of w'hat he now is, will be a blessing and 
an inspiration to that house and household till the last survivor 
shall have been taken upward, and the separate links of the family- 
circle shall again be united in a chain which shall remain un- 
broken forever. 

An estimate of Dr. Eldridge is given by a native of this 
town, who saw him in an entirely different light from most 
of us; one who was not in his youthful days a member of 
Dr. Eldridge's congregation, but, as he mentions, was 
deeply impressed by his preaching in "the great revival of 
1857," and under that preaching was brought into the king- 
dom. Influenced and encouraged by him, the young man 
took a thorough course in Yale, prepared for the ministry, 
preached most successfully to different churches, and for 
many years has been the pastor of the Congregational 
Church at Barre, Mass. 

The following sketch is by Rev. Joseph Fitch Gaylord, 
son of Mr. Anson Gaylord, a native and life-long resident 
of this town. Mr. Gaylord says: 

"You have asked me to give in brief form my impressions of 
Dr. Eldridge. It is probably a general law of human experience 
that, as life advances, the objects and the men with whom one was 
familiar in early years lose somewhat in the estimate made of 
their proportions. With a larger experience with men and things, 
the forests seem less vast, the mountains less lofty, and human 
character less worthy of favor than in the period of youth. Such 
is the general law; but in my impressions of Dr. Eldridge there is 
an exception to this law. On the contrary his life and character 
seem more noble as seen through the perspective of increasing 
years. It was my privilege to know him, not only as a pastor and 
preacher, but also as a member of the ministerial association and 
conference of c^hurches to which I belonged. At my ordination his 
hands were laid on my head and he offered the ordaining prayer. 
My connection with the association and conference continued only 
about two years, but I recall very pleasantly my relations to him 
during those years. He was, I think, the oldest member of those 
organizations, and certainly the one who exercised in each the 
strongest influence. I recall especially his kindly interest in those 
of us who were just commencing the ministry. I have often thought 
that his bearing in this relation was ideal. There was no air of 
superiority, and notliing overbearing in his spirit toward us. On 



418 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

The other hand, there was a geuial aud kiudly interest in us and in 
our work, and a large charity for the crudeuess and imperfections 
"Which he must have seen in us. Many years ago I hung his picture 
in my study, and t^here it hangs and looks down upon me as I am 
now wi'iting; and as I am growing old, and am surrounded by 
ministers, nearly all of whom are much younger than myself, it has 
often seemed to speak to me, teaching me, among other things, what 
should be my bearing in my relations with these younger brethren. 

But I presume it is more especially of Dr. Eldridge as preacher 
and pastor that you wish me to write. During my earliest yeaxs 
I Avas not connected with his congregation, and was never a mem- 
ber of his church; and yet with scores and even hundreds of others, 
I can truly say, that for my early religious experience and train- 
ing, I owe more to him than to any other minister. 

I recollect especially the great revival of 1857 and '58, when not 
less than a hundred of us in Norfolk, largely young people, gave 
ourselves to the service of Christ. It was a period of great revivals 
throughout the country, and I remember bow arduous and effective 
were the labors of Dr. Eldridge. It is easy to see that for more 
than forty years the church has felt the influence of that revival, 
and the large ingathering, to which its records bear witness, gives 
evidence to the fidelity and power of its pastor, as well as of the 
presence of the Holy Spirit. The preaching of Dr. Eldridge showed 
tiim to be a man of strong, comprehensive, and well balanced mind. 
Not only were his intellectual resources large, but he was a man 
of wide reading and observation. His style in preaching was simple, 
but clear, logical and vigorous. Often he spoke in a calm and 
Instructive, rather than oratorical manner; but there were times 
"When he seemed inspired by the magnitude of his theme, and raising 
his voice above its usual key, he spoke with marked eloquence and 
power. He loved to dwell on the high themes which have to do 
with God; his greatness, his sovereignty, and his goodness. One 
sentence of his, uttered in such a connection, still lingers in my 
memory. Speaking of the questions and perplexities which center 
about the future condition of the unsaved, he said, "God will do 
what is right,"— a luminous and helpful statement. Of his pastoral 
work I cannot write from the fullest knowledge. I have been told 
that at some meeting of ministers, he himself spoke somewhat dis- 
paragingly of his ability in that relation; but it is evident that 
no one w^ho was very deficient in that office could have endeared 
himself so fully to his people, and held their loyal devotion for so 
many years. 

To any thoughtful observer it was apparent that he bore upon 
his heart the interests of all in his parish, of whatever class or 
condition. He was quick to discover the humorous features that 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 419 

often come to view in the relation of a pastor to liis people; but 
this did not mar the cordial and genial interest which he felt in 
every one. His church loved and revered him, and trusted him to 
an unusual degree, as their spiritual guide. In theology he was 
conservative, but not nan'ow, holding fast to the great evangelical 
doctrines, and strict in his loyalty to what he deemed the vital 
truths, but tolerant of all minor differences of belief. His work was 
done before the discussions of the last few years had begun much 
to disturb the peace of our churches. But I have raised in my own 
mind the question, had he lived, what would be his attitude in 
these discussions? From my linowledge of his course and habits 
of thoug'ht, I believe he would looli with some degree of distrust 
on present theological tendencies, but at the same time would 
study the things which make for peace. 

Were I to sum up the qualities which account for his long and 
successful pastorate, and his strong and unbi-oken hold upon his 
people, I should name in particular these three:— His unswerving 
fidelity to the great truths of the gospel; his large mental resources, 
and the marked degree in which he concerned himself with the 
welfare of all in his parish. 

Dr. Eldridge was a man of large public spirit, interesting him- 
self not only in the affairs of his town, but also those of the state 
and nation. I was a student in college at the time of the attack on 
Fort Sumter, that event which roused the nation to arms, but 
chanced to be at home the Sunday following, and remembei' the 
strong, patriotic sermon which he gave. It was indicative of his 
course through all the fearful ordeal of the civil war. Nor was 
his attention confined to our country. He watched with deep in- 
terest the movements which w^ere going forward in other parts of 
the world, and his sermons often bore some reference to men and 
events in other lands. 

In particular he was devoted to the great movement of our 
country to carry the gospel to heathen countries, and the cause of 
missions, both at home and abroad, had in 'him one of its truest 
friends. 

It need hardly be added that he was honored and loved not only 
by his own people, but also among the neighboring churches, and 
in the state organizations of our denomination his influence was 
well recognized and beneficent. But it was of course upon his own 
church and congregation tliat his life and character and work made 
the deepest impression. In the history of the town, the record of 
his long, useful and successful pastorate will always form a most 
interesting chapter. As occasionally I return to Norfolk, its beauti- 
ful village and the whole place seem associated w'ith his presence, 
and the walls of the church in which he preached for so long a 



420 HISTORY OF NOEFOLK. 

period, seem almost vocal with his voice. He lives not only in the 
memory of a generation which is now fast passing away, but also 
in the strong character of the church, to which he gave the entire 
public service of his long and useful life." 
"He being dead, yet speaketh." 

In an entirely different aspect of his life and character 
let us look at him for a moment: 

Great man that Dr. Eldridge was, scholarly man. as 
estimated by the eminent authorities already given, he was 
not too great, too scholarly, nor too busy to interest him- 
self in the boys who grew up about him. How vividly 
does the writer recall that, in the winter of 1854, meeting 
one day several boys from the Academy, he stopped, greeted 
them cordially, expressed a desire to get acquainted with 
them, and invited them to come and see him in his study a 
certain evening. The invitation was so hearty that, as he 
passed on, the boys with one accord said, 'let's go,' and 
they did call at the time mentioned. One or two of these 
boys were from out of town, attending the Academy, and 
on the way to the house their hearts almost failed them, 
as the idea of going to see the minister in his study was 
right before them, and a word from one or two of the 
foremost ones would have caused a stampede of the half- 
dozen; but they kept on, were most cordially received, and 
soon began to feel at rest, as the good man told them some 
things about his own boyhood and early life in that far 
country, Yarmouth, on Cape God, which to some of the 
boys seemed like the very end of the earth. Then he told 
them of some funny things that happened when he was a 
student in Yale, apparently enjoying recalling as fully as 
the boys did his relating them. When he saw that he had 
won the hearts of the boys, in such a kindly, affectionate 
way, he spoke of his interest in us, of his earnest desire to 
assist us in any possible way, and of his wish to see us all 
entering into the Ghristian life while we were young. With 
a few words, so kind and fatherly, to each one, then asking 
all to kneel with him in a word of prayer, with an invitation 
to come and see him again, he bade the boys good-night. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 421 

Is it in the least strange that such a man won the love 
of the boys and held the hearts of his people? Nay, verily. 

Most fortunately, a report of what a stranger saw and 
heard in Dr. Eldridge's church a few weeks before the 
close of his pastorate, has been preserved, and, showing 
as it does the estimate of those outside of his little parish 
who were eminently qualified to give an opinion of the 
man, and measure him with the foremost men of his time, 
it is here given. 

Dr. W. L. Gage, pastor at that time of the Pearl Street 
Church, Hartford, spent Sunday, September 13, 1874, in 
Norfolk, and what he there saw and heard he gave to his 
own people the following Sunday. The next Tuesday it 
was published in the Hartford Courant, and so was handed 
down to us. 

Dr. Gage took for his text the words, ''How beautiful 
upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good 
tidings, that publisheth peace," and in part said: 

"A well-known professor jn Amherst College chose for his 
theme last Sunday evening at the Park Church, "A Sunday in 
Russia." Perhaps a Sunday in a Connecticut village might be 
quite as practical a theme, and quite as congenial with the pur- 
poses whic'h have called us together. We often get our clearest 
views of truth, not in abstract ideas, but in concrete and living 
forms; and a church at work may perhaps indicate to us our bless- 
ings and our wants as much as any vague discussion of principles 
might do. 

Under this conviction I am going to try to lead you to some 
useful reflections by asking you to follow me into the country, and 
to listen to a sketch of personal experiences. 

It was a great and unexpected pleasure for me to worship last 
Sunday in one of the hill towns of Connecticut, to take my place 
in the pews, and to be a listener to the word. I need not name the 
town; it was hardly fifty miles away; one of the wild, untutored 
places, Where trees and granite are the most manifest productions. 
A few fertile farms meet the eye, rescued in the past generation 
from the hands of a reluctant Nature. A pleasant mill-stream 
ripples down the hills, and stores away mucb unused power. A 
fe^v trim lawns and solid old houses decorate the tops and sides of 
the hills, and a quaint, old-time New England "meeting-house" 
binds the whole landscape together in itself. 



422 HISTORY OF NOEFOLK. 

The burying-gJ*ound, the post-office and the school-house are of 
course not far away, and the ambition and progress of the present 
time are read in the telegraph poles, the trim railroad depot, and 
public house; not the old-time tavern, with veranda and loafers, but 
the modern and pretentious "hotel." 

It was very pleasant to hear the Sunday morning bell sound 
out the hour of worship, and to see the throng of men and women, 
young men and maidens, in carriages and on foot, going up the 
hillside to the church. And very pleasant was the rustle In the 
sanctuary as they seated themselves, and looked around and nodded 
to one another in neighborly kindness; a compact congregation, 
quiet, reverential, expectant. And very pleasant was it to see the 
minister come in; the oldest settled pastor in the state, who began 
his labors there forty-two years ago, and w'ill close them next 
month, with hair not yet wholly gray, and with form rather bending 
with study than with years. 

Not yet accustomed to glasses, and with voice not touched with 
tremulous tones of weakness, the good man opened the service 
with a brief and most fitting prayer. The large dhoir then sang 
a psalm while the minister's daughter played the organ and a near 
kinsmen led the sing'ing. And then the Scriptures were read, in- 
telligently, with a rare perception of meanings wliich seldom come 
out, yet with the utmost quietness and dignity,— perihaps I might 
say with an almost studied neglect of theatrical or oratorical effect. 
And then the people sang; they reallv sang; the air was full of 
music, as the choir and the congregation joined in that act of 
worship, whidh in our usual Congregational order can alone be the 
vehicle of common praise and prayer. And this service, bare and 
meager as it was, and unsatisfactory as it is to me almost always, 
and not to me alone but to hundreds who feel as I do, was in this 
instance so genuine, the realness was so manifest and undeniable, 
that it was worship,— as true and moving as if it had been in St. 
Paul's or Westminster Abbey. 

And then came the sermon, from the text, "Then the cTiildren 
of men began to call upon the name of the Lord." Plain, terse, 
scriptural, but vigorous and practical. Prom first to last not a 
waste word, not a straggling idea. One manly foot march across 
open country, with the troops all in order. The theme was of 
course prayer; the old theme which in a master's hands is always 
new. Real prayer, private prayer, houseihold prayer, all enforced 
in a hearty, human fashion, the whole based in theology, but grow- 
ing out of theolog.v, and translated into life. I do not know when 
I have heard anything more ergreifend (impressive), as the Germans 
so well say; whicb so took me up, and held me, and carried me 
breathless to the end. I don't know when I have found tears in 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 423 

my eyes under a sermon, but I did last Sunday. The effect height- 
ened of course by the reverence which I felt for the preacher, and 
the fact that his ministry is now coming to an end, had an effect 
such as I have not felt for many a day, and what I would go twice 
forty-four miles to receive. 

In making this sketch, Avhich I am doing for reasons that will 
Xjresently appear, I will not conceal from you nor from myself that 
there are circumstances in this case, aside from the one just men- 
tioned, which are peculiar. Six years ago I heard Dr. Bushnell 
say that "that very village pastor is, in force of intellect, second to 
no man in the United States whom he had ever met." Four years 
ago I heard Governor Jewell indicate him as one of the noblest and 
most Romanesque men whom he knew; and at the state confer- 
ences I had marked that he is Nestor in the band of picked men. 

Always pecuniarily independent, a fact which the keenest judge 
of men would never for a moment guess of that shy and almost 
excessively retiring man, he has yet done ihis Master's work most 
laboriously, faithfully and well, till the limit of three score years 
and ten warns him that the shadows of life will soon draw near. 

I have drawn the picture because it is the besit one that I have 
ever seen, of the power of religion and its institutions in our towns 
and villages, and the necessity that there is of maintaining Divine 
worship on the hill tops, even in the back country of Connecticut" 

Dr. Eldridge had often expressed to some of his friends 
a purpose to resign from his pastorate when he should 
reach the allotted age of three-score years and ten. During 
nearly his entire life he was strong, vigorous, and had ex- 
cellent health, but for a few years previous to reaching the 
mile stone which he had mentally set up, his health began 
to fail, and repeated attacks of very severe suffering and 
sickness caused him to realize fully that his hold upon this 
life was weakening, and strengthened his purpose of re- 
signing his pastorate. Accordingly, in the summer of 1874 
he formally resigned the pastorate of the church, where he 
had labored for more than forty-two years, solely on ac- 
count of increasing age and infirmity; his resignation to 
take effect the first of Xovember following. 

A committee of the church and society was at once ap- 
pointed and instructed to try and persuade Dr. Eldridge to 
withdraw his resignation; some arrangement being sug- 
gested by which he would be relieved of a portion of his 



424 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

care and responsibility as pastor; but his decision to resign 
was final, and he could not be turned from his purpose. 
The closing months and weeks of his pastorate were most 
impressive times, and his last Sabbath a day never to be 
forgotten. 

Sunday morning, November 2nd, 1874, Dr. Eldridge 
preached his farewell sermon to a crowded house, many of 
his old friends and former parishioners returning, some of 
them from a long distance, to once more see their dear old 
pastor in his familiar place, and hear again his voice from 
the sacred desk, as in former years. 

The Scripture reading at this service was the Psalm 
which Dr. Eldridge had so often read from his pulpit and 
in the homes of many of his dear old friends upon funeral 
occasions; the ninetieth Psalm: ''Lord, thou hast been our 
dwelling place in all generations." Never by mortal man 
was this Psalm read with more of meaning, more power, 
more heartfelt earnestness, than upon this occasion, espe- 
cially the fitting prayer of the closing verse: "And let the 
beauty of the Lord our God be upon us; and establish thou 
the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands 
establish thou it." In the afternoon the sacrament of the 
Lord's Supper was administered, the house being again 
filled, the galleries as well as the body of the house. Sev- 
eral persons were at this service received into membership 
of the Church. 

At this service Dr. Eldridge spoke briefly from the pas- 
sage, "Ye are the salt of the earth, ye are the light of the 
world." His thought was, in brief, that, standing as he did 
at that hour, realizing that with that service his ministry 
closed, his work was done; and as in thought he looked for- 
ward to the future of the church, which had been so long 
very dear to his heart, and of the town, in all the aft'airs of 
which he had taken the deepest interest, the question, what 
is to be the hope, the saving powder for this church and 
community? found its only answer in the words of that 
passage. The Christian people of this town must keep and 
save it from ruin and darkness if it is to be saved, and 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 425 

naturally a large measure of that responsibility must rest 
upon this church. "Ye, ye are the salt of the earth; ye, 
ye are the light of the world. Take heed, that the salt lose 
not its savor, that the light that is in you be not darkness; 
let your light shine." 

This farewell sermon, so excellent, so characteristic of 
its godly author, so full of permanent historic interest, is 
omitted from this volume only for lack of space. Copies 
of it can be found in the Norfolk Library. 

Dr. Eldridge was an exceedingly social, a most enter- 
taining, interesting and instructive man, and most thought- 
ful of others, sympathetic and kind of heart. 

Those who thought him otherwise had doubtless been 
unfortunate in their time of calling, as in one instance the 
writer heard him relate as follows: "I had given several 
days of close study and thought to a theme, had just got 
steam up, and had fairly begun to write upon my discourse, 
and felt that I could not be interrupted, when a man from 
an out part of the town came into my study and sat down 
with the appearance of having come to spend the day. He 
was a good man, who seldom came, and I would not for the 
world have done anything that might make him think 1 
was not glad to see him, and could hardly tell him that I 
was very busy, and ask him to excuse me. After devoting 
some time to him, I moved around this way and that, took 
up my pen, dipped it in the ink, wrote a w^ord or two; and 
there he sat, and sat, and sat; talked about the weather 
and kindred topics; had no purpose or object in calling, 
only simply to call, or I could have got through with him 
and got at my work, but it did seem as though he never 
would go. He simply called at an unfortunate time for us 
both; as though I had called to talk and pray with him 
some summer afternoon when he was getting in hay, and 
a thunder shower was rising. He surely would have hoped 
that my praj'er would be a very brief one. I could have 
seen his work, but he could not see mine." 

In contrast with the above: One of his neighbors had at 
one time been sorely bereaved by a death in his family, 



426 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

and as the man said 3'ears afterward, ''Dr. Eldridge would 
come over when he was not busy and knew I would not be 
busy, and talk with me sometimes for a long time. He was 
the most entertaining man to talk with I ever saw. If he 
had read or heard something that specially interested him, 
he would come over and tell me all about it. He knew and 
seemed to remember how sad and lonely I was, and I knew 
that he tried to cheer and comfort me in this way." 

While calling at a parishioner's, he once met a man whose 
bump of conceit was large, and who was consequently 
easily flattered. This man said: ''Dr. Eldridge, I was in 
a certain town not long since, and a gentleman said to me, 
Dr., I trust you are going to remain in town over the Sab- 
bath and preach for us. You see, he mistook me for Dr. 
Eldridge." The rejoinder was: ''Yes, such mistakes do 
happen. I was in a certain place once, and was mistaken, 
and came near being arrested for a horse thief." 

During many years of Dr. Eldridge's ministry there was 
quite a French poi^ulation in the town, mostly natives of 
France and a few Canadian Frenchmen, for the most part 
employed in chopping wood and burning charcoal for the 
furnaces in East Canaan and Huntsville. They lived in 
log cabins in the coal-bushes, as they were called, in the 
out parts of the town; were most of them Catholics, but 
there being here no resident Catholic priest, when a young 
French man and woman wished to be made man and wife, 
and Avhen the children of these French families died, as 
frequently happened, they invariably called upon Monsieur 
le Pasteur Eldridge to perform the marriage ceremony, as 
he spoke the French language readily, used a French mar- 
riage service, and served them most acceptably. At fu- 
nerals and in the burial service he spoke to them in French 
and ofifered prayer in English, and satisfied them fully ex- 
cept in one instance. A child had died in one of the coal- 
bushes, and as usual he was called upon to oflBciate at the 
funeral. Upon arriving at the cabin he was met by the 
sorrowing father, who with a look of surprise said, "Did 
not Monsieur le Pasteur bring one coffin for our little 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 427 

child?" The father had rested in the belief that 'Monsieur 
le Pasteur' would provide a coffin and at least see that a 
grave was made ready. Dr. Eldridge was exceedingly 
sorry to disappoint the family, as he had to do when he in 
substance told them that he was neither the undertaker 
nor a grave digger. 

Wishing a native French teacher for his children, he 
secured a thoroughly educated French lady, born in Nantes 
in 1829, educated in Paris, who had lived in Brooklyn, 
N. Y., for a short time, to come to Norfolk as a teacher. 

Madame Charpentier, with her husband. Monsieur Leo- 
pold Charpentier, in the spring of 1852 came here, and lived 
for some time in the old Bobbins house, teaching not only 
Dr. Eldridge's family, but quite a number of other persons, 
and in about two years she secured a more permanent 
position in Farmington, through Dr. Eldridge's influence, 
where for twenty-eight years she was in charge of the 
French department of Miss Porter's school. During their 
residence in town Monsieur and Madame Charpentier, as 
was natural, became acquainted with some of the other 
French people, and among them a young man whom they 
found to be exceedingly bright, intelligent, finely educated, 
and evidently fitted for a much better position in life than 
that of a wood-chopper, as he then was; roughly clad, un- 
kempt in every way, and at times dissipated, like most of 
his companions. He had thoroughly learned cabinet-mak- 
ing by a seven years' apprenticeship in his native country, 
and had served several years as a soldier in the French 
army in Algiers, but possibly not the required seven years. 

As Madame Charpentier was to leave town, and her 
pupils desired to continue their lessons, the question arose, 
where shall we get another teacher? 

Meantime the educated wood-chopper had heard of Mr. 
F. E. Porter's cabinet-shop on Wood Creek, had applied 
there for work, and a chance being given him to show what 
he could do, proved that he was a very superior workman, 
and so had bettered his condition materially, going to live 
in Mr. Porter's family, then not being able to speak English 



428 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

at all. Madame spoke of him to Dr. Eldridge, suggesting 
that he see this man. So an arrangement was made for 
him to call upon Dr. Eldridge, which he did, clad doubtless 
in the best he had, — coarse, rough clothing, red flannel 
shirt, cow-hide boots, etc. In this interview, with his keen 
insight, Dr. Eldridge discovered the "angel in the marble." 
An arrangement was made that he should make a trial as 
a teacher of the French language, and come to Dr. El- 
dridge's house to instruct his children. He came at the 
appointed time, succeeded admirably, was encouraged, con- 
tinued teaching, improved greatly in his appearance, thor- 
oughly reformed and became under Dr. Eldridge's teaching 
and influence a sincere Christian gentleman and citizen, 
married a refined, educated lady, a native of Norfolk, 
taught Dr. Eldridge the art of fencing in addition to pure 
Parisian French, and after a number of years secured a 
fine position as teacher of French in the public schools of 
Hartford, Conn., which position he filled for fifteen years 
with great acceptance to all and honor to himself and his 
friends. This man was Monsieur Victor Alvergnat, well 
remembered by many people still living in this town. In 
1877 he was severely bitten by a dog that made its way into 
the building where he was teaching in Hartford. Hydro- 
phobia was the result, and so this noble life went out in 
that most terrible way, when he was 53 years of age. 

Upon Monsieur Alvergnat's removal to Hartford, Mon- 
sieur Lallier taught French here for a time. He was an 
educated gentleman, about whom there seemed to be some 
mystery. He was an exceedingly bitter anti-Catholic, and 
some of his acquaintances here surmised that he was pos- 
sibly a deposed priest. 

It was earnestly hoped, and perhaps unduly expected, 
that, upon being relieved entirely from the burden and care 
of his long pastorate, Dr. Eldridge's health would materially 
improve, and as President Porter expressed it, ''that an- 
other ten years might be added to his life" ; but his health 
did not improve during the winter, and about March 20, 
1875, he became seriously and dangerously ill. Everything 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 429 

that medical skill could suggest, or the most devoted 
friends could do in his behalf, was of no avail, and on the 
31st of March, scarcely five months from the day when he 
laid down his pastorate, "his spirit returned to God who 
gave it"; he "passed over unto the other side," and "en- 
tered into the rest that remaineth to the people of God." 

Shortly after the death of Dr. Eldridge, obituary notices 
of him were published in a large number of the local, state, 
and other papers, from which extracts will be made. In 
an article in the "Christian Union," signed "N. P., Yale 
College," it was said: 

"On Saturday, the 3d of April, the Rev. Joseph Eldridge, D. D.. 
of Norfolk, Conn., was followed to the grave by the people of the 
town in which he had been pastor a little more than forty-two 
years. He had resigned his office and preached his last sermon 
on the 2d of November preceding. We trust that his character 
and career will receive more than our passing notice. There were, 
however, certain peculiarities in both which merit immediate at- 
tention, while his memory is fresh. That he was no common man 
and no common minister was indicated by the honor which was 
rendered to his memory on the day of bis burial. The house of 
worship in which he had preached was thronged by a sorrowful 
assembly. The pastors of all the churches in the vicinity, and not 
a few from a distance, were present. Very many prominent lay- 
men from the neighboring villages were there with their families. 
Although the audience was disappointed in not hearing an eloquent 
and moving tribute to his memory which they expected from his 
neighbor and life-long friend. Rev. Adam Reid, of Salisbury, yet 
they listened with attention to the unstudied words which two or 
three of his brethren supplied. Everything in word and act and 
demeanor testified that all the assembly knew "that a prince and 
a great man had fallen in Isreal." Dr. Eldridge never aspired to 
be a great man, nor did he know that he was a great man. The 
review which he gave of his labors and experiences in his tinal 
sermon is as simple and plain spoken as the utterances of a child. 
But simple as the sermon was, it indicated a man singularly com- 
prehensive in his knowledge, sound in his principles, humane in 
his loving sympathy, and earnestly Christian in his aspirations 
and hopes. ... In laying down his pastorate he refused to re- 
tain a nominal connection with the church, that he might free 
himself and the parish from any possible embarrassment. This 
was not because he loved his people the less, but because he loved 



J 



430 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

them the more, as he delicately and tenderly intimates in his an- 
ticipation of the time when he should be called to see their love 
transferred to another. 

Dr. Eldridge was not only respected and beloved at home, but 
he was honored and loved in the churches, and by the pastors in 
the immediate vicinity, and in due time throughout all the State. 
The churches of Litchfield County have been singularly united in 
feeling and action from the first, thus fulfilling the proverb, "when 
dwellings are far, neighbors are near." No one who has not made 
experience of that hill country life can have any conception of the 
heights of the hills, the depth of the snows, the tenacity of the 
mud, and the fierceness of the winds, which malie an ordinary 
mile of travel in winter and in storm equal to two or three in other 
situations; and yet in no part of New England has there been a 
closer sympathy and more ready concert of action among ministers 
and churches. 

Dr. Eldridge appreciated the value of this union and co-opera- 
tion. He was placed in a position which would have tempted a man 
less generous and faithful than he to excuse himself from many 
of the exposures, and wearisome, thanliless services, which were 
made easy to him by his interest in the fellowship of the churches. 
To the last he cherished these feelings, as was remarlsed at his 
burial by one of his brethren who knew him best. Even after he 
resigned his pastorate, he invited his brethren to meet at his house 
as often as they should choose in their ecclesiastical pastoral as- 
sociations. He was a believer in the Consociation of the churches, 
and he repeatedly vindicated this organization from the assaults 
of its opponents. Though public spirited when practical objects 
might be furthered, he had little taste for denominational coun- 
cils, large or small, and no narrow notions of Congregational sec- 
tarianism,— but only ardent and intelligent zeal for the advance- 
ment of the kingdom of God, by Christian spirituality and Chris- 
tian intelligence, under the simplest possible ecclesiastical forms 
which are compatible with organic strength and harmony. It was 
worthy of notice how, in the last fifteen years of his life, the in- 
terest which had previously been confined to the churches of his 
neighborhood and county was extended to all the churches of the 
State; how interested he became in the practical questions\ and en- 
terprises which were brought to his notice in the meetings of the 
State General Association and General Conference. Not a few 
of his brethren retain vivid remembrances of the zeal and power 
with which he surprised and delighted them in these assemblies, 
even when suddenly called upon to arouse their respect for them- 
selves and their oflice, or to analyze and reform any weakness of 
faith in the pastoral office and the truths of the gospel. In all 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 431 

deliberative assemblies and meetings of trustees and Committees, 
Dr. Eldridge was eminently characteristic. He was usually silent, 
often impatient of long and wordy harangues, or needless and 
petty discussions, but he was always sagacious to discern the point 
at issue, prompt in action, and singularly transparent and honest 
minded. He was a pillar of strength in the Corporation of Yale 
College, and in the many boards of trust of which he was a mem- 
ber. 

His intellectual habits and tastes were his own. He was fond 
of history, and from the beginning to the end of his student and 
pastoral life, he read with a never-flagging interest. He was fond 
of traveling and observation of men and their enterprises. He 
was in close and wakeful sympathy with the great political move- 
ments of the world, and read the newspapers with an intelligent 
judgment. To his sermons he brought a solid understanding, and 
a heart that was uniformly Christian in its principles and sym- 
pathies. His sermons were eminently his own,— fresh, strong, and 
unique in thought and language. His manner was his own, — emi- 
nently manly, earnest, and believing. He had little consciousness 
of what he was, or how he was acquitting himself. The truths 
which he uttered took strong hold of his being, and he gave im- 
pressive utterance to his convictions. 

"While he mused the fire burned; then spake he with his 
tongue,"— at first with hesitation, but as he proceeded his spirit 
was stirred, and strong thoughts forcibly uttered broke forth from 
their hiding-place, and those that listened could not but feel. Here 
is a man. . . . While he was gentle among his people, as a nurse 
cherisheth her children, yet he uniformly did homage to their self- 
respect. He dared to oppose them when his own convictions were 
strong, but in an earnest and manly way. One of the most con- 
spicuous achievements of his life was his success in enforcing his 
own views in respect to the location of the railway, which threat- 
ened to invade the center of the meeting-house green, and to di- 
vide it by a yawning gulf. That a minister should be able to set 
aside the wishes of so many of his parishioners on such a ques- 
tion, without mortally offending them, and should succeed in con- 
vincing them that he was in the right, is a most honorable testi- 
mony to his wisdom, goodness, and sagacity. 

Dr. Eldridge was happy in his home. Hither his heart turned 
when absent, and in the intelligent, merry, and ardent houseGbld 
that was gathered there, he found his rest and joy. During the 
latter years of his life, acute bodily and mental suffering, with 
sharp bereavements among his kindred coming thick and fast, 
somewhat shaded his life; but his affections only mellowed and 
elevated his spirit, making him more lovely without weakening 



432 HISTOEY OF NORFOLK. 

his dignity. It was the hope of his relations and friends that an- 
other ten years might be added to his life, and that so useful and 
beneficial a career might have been ended by a glowing yet serene 
sunset of love and wisdom. But a dark cloud suddenly sprung out 
of the west and hid him from their sight. His kindred, his people, 
and his friends will long cherish and bless his memory, and his 
name will stand forth conspicuously in the honored line of the 
many successful New England pastors who spent all their lives in 
one parish, and spent them wisely and well." 

(FBOM the ' WlNSTKU HEBALD.') 

"The funeral services of the late Rev. Joseph Eldridge, D. D., 
were held in the Congregational Church, Norfolk, on Saturday last 
at one o'clock. After prayer at the house by Rev. William E. Bas- 
sett of Warren, the body was carried to the church, preceded as 
an escort by several ministers fi*om abroad and neighboring par- 
ishes. Not only the people of Norfolk gathered in great numbers, 
but people from adjoining towns, and notably from Winsted, to 
pay their last profound regards to the memory of the noble man 
and Christian minister. 

The pulpit was draped in black as well as the sides of the 
galleries. In the center of the drapery back of the pulpit, in large 
letters, was the text, "Remember the words that I spake while 
I was yet with you." 

The flowers in bouquets, crosses, anchor and crown were most 
beautiful, and interspersed with tiny sheaves of wheat, spoke elo- 
quently of him so long a toiler in spiritual harvest fields. 

Dr. Adam Reid of Salisbury, the ministerial neighbor and in- 
timate friend of the deceased, was too ill to preach a funeral dis- 
course, greatly to the disappointment of all. 

The services were conducted by Rev. J. W. Beach, acting pastor 
of the church, assisted by Rev. President Porter, of Yale College, 
and Rev. Dr. Perrin of Wolcottville, the latter gentleman giving 
brief but eloquent testimony to the worth of the deceased, and 
some interesting personal reminiscences. 

After the services the remains were looked upon for the last 
time, and then the long procession filed away to that silent city 
on the hillside, and laid away the body of him who had followed 
to that same resting place, through so many years, the bodies of 
those that sleep around him. . . . 

Aside from a natural sadness that impresses itself on the soul 
on such an event as this, we see no reason for sadness or gloom, 
but a spirit of joy and rejoicing, thankful to God that this man 
was spared so long, and was such a power to instruct and mould 
human character for good; thankful that a long and noble min- 



HISTOEY OF NORFOLK. 433 

istry was so well rounded out and finished, and that before the 
pains and troubles of extreme old age overtook him he was called 
to the palm and the crown." 

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." 

MRS. SARAH BATTELL ELDRIDGE. 

It is eminently fitting to speak of the family relations of 
Dr. Eldridge, but especially so as they were the most happy 
and helpful to him during his entire ministry, and as he 
at every opportunity gave much credit to his life com- 
panion for what he was and what he had been enabled to 
accomplish as a pastor. 

About the time of his settlement here he was married to 
Miss Rachel Purple of New Haven, a lady of great force 
and beauty of character, who in a brief period accom- 
plished her work. Roys most briefly says of her: — ''Mrs. 
Eldridge died in 1833, endeared to us as an active Chris- 
tian." 

''That life is long that answers life's great end." 

The companion and helper of Dr. Eldridge during the 
most of his long pastorate, was Sarah, the eldest daughter 
of Esq. Joseph Battell. They were married October 12, 
1836, — Mrs. Eldridge surviving him a little more than three 
years. 

Soon after her death a beautiful and fitting memorial 
of Mrs. Eldridge was published, which contains many 
worthy tributes to her life, her character and her work, by 
those who knew her best, and from these tributes extracts 
will be taken. 

Of her early life, as well as of her maturer years, her 
sister, Mrs. Urania Humphrey, most beautifully said in a 
letter to her nephew and nieces soon after their mother's 
death : 

"It has occurred to me that it will not be amiss to note down 
! some recollections of your mother, which, as I read the many- 
sided views of her character by others, suggest themselves as be- 
longing peculiarly to her domestic life. In her childhood she was 
"ur "glee-maiden," tripping, with song and laughter, in and about 



I 



434 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

our bright home, always leading in our amusements and contribu- 
ting with her ready wit to convert our little troubles and tasks 
into a laughing comedy, and parrying the grave rebukes of our 
elders in a way that disarmed all their terrors. She had a sturdy 
physique, the fleetest of foot of our nine,— was always at the goal 
around the meeting-house before her bx'others even were half way. 
Her complexion was the Saxon red and white (the York and Lan- 
caster combined) of her father, — a heaven-reflected blue eye, abun- 
dant brown hair that almost always escaped from the net she 
wore; not skillfully plaited like your aunt Irene's, but soft as the 
zephyrs that blew it about her shoulders and waist. She was help- 
ful too in the household with her needle, and furnished some of 
the linen that our dear mother encouraged us to spin, — singing 
as she spun as sweetly and as gracefully as did Goethe's Mar- 
guerite. She was a bright scholar, educated with your aunt Irene 
at Hartford and New Haven, and throughout her life an insatiable 
reader. She had a remarkably quick ear for music, and one of her 
early teachers, disposed to chide her for not giving more time 
for practice, after listening to her sister's rendition of a difficult 
lesson, was confounded to find that Sarah had caught its rhythm, 
harmony, and spirit, — triumphantly reproducing on the instrument 
the same thing. Domestic avocations in after life prevented her 
fi'om pursuing music as thoroughly as did your aunt Irene, but 
you will always remember what a pastime and joy it was in all 
these years to hear her play and sing, both at home and in public 
worship. You know what the old clergyman said after you had 
tried to entertain him with your efforts on the piano, your mother 
taking your place,— "Well, I must say that the old lady beats them 
all." How merrily she laughed at your chagrin, especially at the 
epithet "old lady," saying that she presumed he thought her as 
old as Tubal Cain. After her marriage you remember what your 
aunt Irene quotes in one of her last letters,— that mother felt that 
the sun had not risen till Sarah came from the old parsonage to 
look into the dear home from which one and another were fast 
leaving for homes of their own. 

She had an inherited love of flowers that delighted her mother, 
and until the autumn of 1854, we often saw them bending over 
a new specimen of some exotic plant, or conferring about the ar- 
rangements of the flower-beds, or discussing the old and new 
methods of flower culture. When your father made choice of one 
of his flock, some of the saintly old members of his flock shook 
their heads, and feared that young girl would not fill her grand- 
mother's place, though it took dear grandma fifty-two years to five 
up to the requirements of a minister's wife, and even then it was 
the magnetism of her sweet disposition and invariable high breed- 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 435 

ing that captivated the hearts of the parishioners, as your mother 
did in less than a twelvemonth after she became the pastor's wife. 
I was delightedly surprised to find, when I came home after a 
year's absence, that she was such a universal favorite with all 
ages and classes. 

But her religious growth seemed to me marvelous. I was 
more delighted still at a woman's prayer-meeting (which she, I 
believe, organized), to hear her petitions,— full of that simplicity 
and nearness to the thi-one of grace that indicated in whose school 
she had been taught, and that from our own household another 
prophetess had arisen. Her life, seemingly so prosperous, was 
not without great burdens; her natural light-heartedness helped 
her to bear them most resolutely and cheerfully, and you can all 
testify to the self-denial and readiness with which she assumed 
the duties of a minister's house. But only a woman of similar ex- 
perience can understand the willing hands she put to those labors, 
the pains she took that your father's studies should be uninter- 
rupted, and all the claims of a boundless hospitality never ignored. 
Her sacrifices for your education and comfort cannot be computed. 
I observed her closely with the greatest admiration and respect. 
Never was she a moment estranged from the love and perfect 
confidence of father, mother, brothers and sisters, and she gave 
to us all a perpetual love-feast. After father and mother were 
removed she seemed to be nearer than ever. Our elder sister gave 
us all a hospitable welcome, and our family gatherings were still 
"a harvest time of sweets, where no crude surfeit reigned." 

Much has been said of her remarkable hospitality, but where 
is the housewife, with a house full of children, and a parish to 
look after, who can testify as she did to me, "I can truly say that 
in all my married life I never saw a person enter my gate that I 
was not glad to see." 

Rich viands,— for she was a princess in the culinary art as wen 
as in name, she laid before her immediate friends, no matter at 
what cost of labor and time to herself, and the "tramp's cup and 
plate" at the porch door were always ready when applied for. My 
poor sister, when her beautiful rod and strong staff were broken, 
bowed herself in sweet submission, but the blow so crushed her 
she never recovered her physical vitality, and from that day, "did 
fade as a leaf." 

She continued, however, to comfort the feeble-minded, and en- 
courage the despondent, still self-forgetting, contributing to the en- 
tertainment of those who sought her society for her rare conversa- 
tional powers, till the languishing pulses admonished us all that 
"the forces of nature could no farther go." 

Then on a June day, when our poet Bryant, with whom she 



436 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

had recently conversed, passed, as he said of Cole, like "an arrow 
shot up into the sky," she too,— 

"Folded her pale hands meekly. 
And fell asleep by the gates of light." 

What more beautiful tribute than the foregoing from a 
sister can be conceived? 

A most worthy companion-picture is the tribute of a 
brother of Mrs. Eldridge by marriage, Rev, Azariah El- 
dridge of Yarmouth, Mass., who in a letter addressed to 
his nephew, not long after his mother's death, said: 

"It is sad to be an orphan. When I think of what you and the 
sisters have lost by death, my heart fills with sorrow and sympathy. 
We must never forget amid the trying scenes of this life, that you 
and they are the children of remarkable parents. For myself, as 
his grateful and loving brother, I may over-estimate the rare quali- 
ties of your father, but there appears to me no such combination 
of mind and heart in any great man among the living. 

And your dear mother, now called after him out of this darken- 
ing world, has certainly left no superior as a true and wonderful 
woman among those whom I have ever had the happiness to know. 

I cannot describe her, because I cannot comprehend her, if men 
ever do women. But the early impression made upon me when a 
boy from the preparatory school has been deepening all through 
life, and is that of great strength clothed in still greater softness 
and beauty of character. 

She was strong as the spring and the summer are strong, with 
a power sweetly and irresistibly pervasive and persuasive. There 
belonged to her a freshness, a buoyant and vernal life, an exuber- 
ance of vitality, of spirits and of love, which nothing could resist 
or exhaust, and which years did not appear to check or to chill in 
the least. 

There was a force, gentle, genial, and smiling as May, to smite 
through the ice and thaw things out,— to set the sap flowing, and 
call other people forth into blooming gayety and fragrance. 
Never did she appear to grow old at heart, any more than in 
the flashing quickness of her mental activities. She never lost 
her interest in flowers. She never parted with any of her charm 
in interesting children, or any of her power over young men. Dur- 
ing her last winter at New York, when she was sixty-eight years 
old and must have been already ill, ladies and gentlemen of all 
ages would gather about her of an evening to have their hearts 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 437 

warmed, as we do about a fireside. But that was no new thing ex- 
cept to those who were there to experience it for the first time. 
These luminous and glowing emanations of social genius and good 
will were the delight of her father when she was a girl. They were 
the pride and joy of her husband in middle life, and they pulsated 
forth in floods at intervals until the very last. They seemed to 
cost her no particular effort. They came as natural and easy as the 
throbbing light of a glow-worm, and emanated from her often in 
the midst of darkness, sorrow, and trial. Once, Joseph, when you 
were her baby, and were suddenly choking with the croup, at a 
moment when the house was full of company, she managed to con- 
ceal it from them all, and was flitting between the sick-room and 
the guests until the last of them departed unconscious and happy. 
And here I may say that the passion of her soul and life was to 
render other people happy. Self-sacrifice never stood in the way. 
To deprive and expose herself for others was as nothing. The 
endurance and concealment of suffering for others was an habitual 
practice. And it makes the heart ache to think of the agony never 
told of, and betrayed to the physician by symptoms, and at length 
to all by ii'repressible moans, during those fatal days and weeks. 

But she is now at rest forever. Her life on the whole was a 
very happy one. The ruling passion so strong in death, was grati- 
fied through life to an unusual degree. She could easily render 
people happy. The gifts and facilities for doing others good were 
bountifully lavished upon her. I allude not merely to the material 
blessings which a wise and kind Providence placed at her disposal 
for the poor, and for every worthy object near and far, but also 
and here chiefly I refer to those rare mental and moral endowments 
by which she could I'eadily encourage the hearts of others, dissipate 
unhealthy gloom from their horizon, and animate those about her 
with the happy hopefulness she so much rejoiced to witness. 

Another feature which contributed much to render her life re- 
markably happy was the continual possession by constitutional en- 
dowment of high and equal spirits. The buoyant fullness of her 
equanimity knew no ups and downs; never ebbed far from high 
water mark, or below ready recall. She was always herself at 
home, by the way, and abroad. 

To her children and kindi'ed, to her friends and social acquaint- 
ances, to the strangers and aliens who might approach, she was 
herself. There was the same genial and unwearied loveliness of 
disposition and temper, and upon any occasion, on the instant ready; 
the same flow of spirits, the same overflow of thoughts, sentiments, 
and information, but with a certain method to it all, in the most 
animated crises, self-forgetful, yet always under self-control. 

Thus her sojourn here upon earth was doubtless one of ex- 



438 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

ceptional enjoyment. Her very genius and office were to com- 
municate happiness, and that "which she gave to others, the Lord 
gave to her according to his word, "good measure, pressed dovrn, 
and shaken together, and running over." She was happy with 
her parents and brothers and sisters at home. She was happy with 
her noble husband and her family of adoring children. She was 
happy with the troops of friends who came thronging about her 
wherever she went. She was happy in the good worlis of private 
charity and public beneficence entrusted by the Master to her 
hands. She was happy in the ministers and students she aided, 
and in the young men going forth from her Bible-class. She was 
happy above all in her personal experiences of religion, and in her 
union by faith to Christ. And now she is gone from us. Those 
soft white hands are still forever. That voice whose conversa- 
tional accents were so sweet will no more be heard on earth. But 
it is so by the will of God. She is where she ought to be,— in 
Heaven. And her children should not bow down and grieve, but 
should "rise up and call her blessed." 

In the 'Independent' of July 11, 1878, is the tribute to 
Mrs. Eldridge from President Porter of Yale College, as 
follows: 

"Died in Norfolk, Conn., June 6, 1878, Sarah Battell, wife of 
the late Joseph Eldridge, D. D. 

Mrs. Eldridge was born March 19, 1810. She was the eldest 
daughter of the late Joseph Battell of Norfolk. She inherited the 
striking traits of both father and mother, and from her earliest 
years entered fully into the active and sympathetic kindness and 
active usefulness for which both were distinguished. When by 
her marriage with Dr. Eldridge, October 12th, 1836, she became 
the wife of the only pastor in town, she had only to broaden the 
sphere of activity in which she had already been trained in order, 
in an eminent sense, to become the mistress and mother of the 
parish, the sympathizing friend and active counselor of young and 
old. All the people had known her either from her or their child- 
hood, as a generous and faithful friend, abundant in sympathy, 
humor, and honest frankness. Her labors were unceasing, her sym- 
pathy and patience were exhaustless, and her generosity was un- 
stinted. She was rarely if ever irritated by ingratitude or unkind- 
ness, and she could tell the plainest truths with the sweetest spirit. 
Her animal spirits never flagged, and her interest in everything 
which concerned the welfare of her family, her parish, her friends 
far and near, or the Kingdom of God, was always ready, sincere, 
and efl3cient. Her humor and buoyancy of spirits were literally 
indomitable and Irrepressible, and they rendered excellent service 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 439 

to herself and her friends in the dark hours of life. Her voice 
was singularly sweet and gentle, and she delighted in sacred song. 
From her earliest years her voice had been heard in the services 
of the Lord's day, in the prayer-meeting, and her own household. 
During the days of imperfect consciousness which preceded her 
death, the old familiar hymns which had so often been upon her 
tongue were heard in low but sweet undertones, and seemed chiefly 
to occupy her mind. 

Her activity in Sunday School work began early in life, being 
first given to a class of young ladies, but later and for many years 
to a class of boys, the successive members of which remembered 
her with gratitude as they became young men and continued to 
share in her counsels and sympathy. After the death of her hus- 
band, she kept herself and her household true to their habits of 
active interest for the people, for the neighboring churches and 
their pastors, and all the important enterprises of Christian benefi- 
cence to which their life had been devoted. 

This great afiliction of her life made an ineffaceable impression 
upon her heart, though she seemed cheerful and buoyant as had 
been her wont, and for the sake of her children and friends strove 
to retain the elastic spring which it would seem nothing could 
weaken. In all these there was manifest a plaintive sadness which 
could not be wholly concealed and which wore away her life. It 
is not often that there goes from any household a mother bearing 
so genuinely the New England stamp of another generation, com- 
bining in such marked individuality, sense and thought, sympathy 
and humor, tenderness and strength, charity toward all mankind, 
and devout reverence before God, as she who, on the 10th of JTine, 
son and daughters, brothers and sisters, kindred and friends, par- 
ishioners and the poor followed to the grave, to lay her by the 
side of her honored husband, neither of whom will be soon for- 
gotten by any who knew them." 

At the funeral of Mrs. Eldridge, Rev. J. F. Gleason, the 
pastor, spoke from the words, "Write, Blessed are the dead 
which die in the Lord from henceforth," and in part he said : 
Death, though not an uncommon event, sometimes makes an 
uncommon occasion; as when he takes a shining mark, or a skli 
ful laborer from the world's great harvest field, or a fruitful tree 
from the Master's garden. One has been taken from our midst who 
was loved by more than an ordinary circle of friends; who was 
held in tender regard by the entire community In which she lived, 
and whose name is a synonym for goodness and benevolence, to 
many who even never saw her. This occasion forcibly reminds us 
of what another has said: "heaven is attracting to itself whatever 



440 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

is congenial to its nature; is enriching itself by tlie spoils of eartli, 
' and collecting within its capacious bosom whatever is pure, per- 
manent, and divine." 

Mrs. Eldridge's long, consistent Christian life is the best pos- 
sible evidence of her faith and of her triumph, for a life of faith 
always ends in triumph, whether it be amidst shoutings or in si- 
lence. Such a life of faith does not go for navight. As truly as 
the flower may be foreknown by the plant, or the fruit determined 
by the tree, so surely can glorious results be foretold of a life of 
faith like hers. She was taken from the midst of this parish to 
be the wife of its minister. To be selected from a large circle as 
the companion and helpmeet of their spiritual teacher was a posi- 
tion of no little delicacy and difficulty. But it was not long before 
all were convinced of the wisdom of the choice, and her fitness for 
the position, and how well through all those years she filled that 
place, you all know. 

To her husband, that word wife meant companion, counselor, 
assistant. She was to share a minister's joys and sorrows; to coun- 
sel him in the many and sometimes perplexing problems of his 
professional life, and to make his home a place of rest and recrea- 
tion, and a refuge from cares even in the very midst of them. Their 
happy wedded life for forty years, his honored and successful min- 
istry of forty-two years, and a happy hospitable home, where she 
always sat as queen, show how well she fulfilled the various duties 
of a minister's wife. Her home was noted for its hospitality. 
Stranger or invited guest here found a welcome smile, a hearty 
hand shake, and hospitable board. 

Before the days of railroads, when men traveled by carriage 
and coach, the calls for hospitality upon a minister's home were 
far more frequent than now. Instead of stopping over a train for 
a brief call, it was not unusual for a party of several to remain 
a day or two for rest and sociability; and where their stay was 
pleasant and instructive, as she always made it, the guests were 
loath to leave. Added to all these duties so well performed, was 
the rearing of a family of six children, educating them for the 
duties of life and training them for immortality. They could tes- 
tify of her unwearied care and wonderful patience, which sweetens 
her memory as it did her life. Her gladsome disposition and 
natural vivacity made the place where she was, always bright and 
attractive, as the bubbling spring makes all around it fresh and 
green. 

She was early in the Master's service, making a public profes- 
sion of her faith in Christ in November, 1832. She was for sev- 
eral years a prominent member of the church choir. Her memory 
was stored with hymns which she had sung in the Sanctuary. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 441 

These were a great joy and comfort to her in her last sickness. 
Early in life she taught a class of young ladies in the Sabbath 
School, and for a quarter of a century later, a class of young men, 
who regarded her highly as teacher and counselor. 

Nor shall we ever forget her in the social meetings of the church. 
Her voice leading in Sacred song was always heard in our worship. 
There was no department of church worli in which she was not 
interested. Her thoughts and interests through all her life, have 
been braided and interwoven with this dear church. She kept 
nothing from her Saviour. Her wealth was given to His cause. 
Many of her benefactions were distributed so quietly and unosten- 
tatiously that no one but the giver and receiver ever knew of the 
kindly deeds. Her life was full and rounded. As wife, as mother, 
as sister, as friend, and as Christian benefactor, her duties were 
many and varied, and well performed. We shall miss her, but 
we think of her as transferred to a higher seat near the throne. 
"Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, 
saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labors, and their works do 
follow them." 

MISS CYNTHIA L. FOSKET. 

A truly noble and remarkable woman, who will be held 
most fondly in memory by all who knew her, for her 
kindly, Christian character, her works and labor of love, 
was Miss Cynthia L. Fosket, who was born at Stockbridge, 
Mass. When eighteen years old she came to live in the 
family of Dr. Eldridge, where her home w'as during all the 
remainder of her life. 

"It is not easy to speak of her distinguishing traits, they 
were so many. Whatever she did, — and there were few 
things she could not do, — was done so well that it is diffi- 
cult to say what was best. Gifted with an unusual intel- 
lect and a wonderful memory, she accomplished more than 
most women with twice her strength. 

"As a Christian worker, as a housekeeper, as a botanist, 
she was equalled by few. In temperance work especially 
Miss Fosket was invaluable. No one, no ten, can fill her 
place in the '^Woman's Christian Temperance Union," of 
which she was Secretary and Treasurer until illness com- 
pelled her to resign the office. No one in Norfolk did more 
for temperance during her residence in the town than did 



444 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

emotions to Him wlio prompted the gifts, and to tlie generous 
givers, and beg to renew our thanks to the donors, hoping and 
trusting that for many years to come the members of this church 
and posterity may bring up hither and present their offspring at 
this service, long, very long. Sir, at your hands, the memorials of 
a Savior's dying love." 

The writer has been asked as to the disposition of the 
old communion service. The following letter is the best 

answer: 

"Greeley, Colorado, Dec. 23d, 1874. 
Rev. Joseph Eldridge, D. D., Norfolls, Conn. 

My Dear Sir:— "Rev. Mr. Powell has already, I suppose, ac- 
knowledged to you, or to Mrs. Eldridge, the reception of the Com- 
munion Service. As Pastor of the church, I wish to make acknowl- 
edgment for the church, and to thank you for your kind response to 
Mr. Powell's suggestion, and Mrs. Eldridge especially, who, as I 
understand, procured the gift for us, or made it herself. Such 
a gift to a church is more than an act of charity or benefaction. 
It must become a means of grace to the church. 

A communion service received in such a way is more valuable 
far, than if it had been purchased by the church. It becomes a 
means for communion with the brotherhood, and I judge this set, 
a part of it, has been in use by your own or some other church, and 
perhaps for a good while, though it has been made to look new 
again for us. From the fact that the plates were made in Lon- 
don, I infer that they are old, or that they were sometime sent 
from England, as they are now from New England. If I am right 
in this, associations with former use may give a value to them 
here, where all other articles in use are new, and without any con- 
nection with the past. I am sure we have reason for the heartiest 
thanks to Mrs. Eldridge; and I hope the future history of this 
church may be such that she shall not have occasion to be other- 
wise than pleased in remembering her kindness to it." 

'Yours most sincerely, 

W. K. Packard.' 



I, 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 445 



XXVI. 

V 

THE BATTELLE FAMILY. 

Unquestionably the most important and prominent fam- 
ily in the whole history of Norfolk is that of Joseph Bat- 
telle, Esq. An extended mention of him is made, as the 
most prominent and successful merchant of the town, in 
another chapter. 

Joseph Battelle was the sixth generation from Thomas 
Battelle, who emigrated from England, and settled in Ded- 
ham, Massachusetts, prior to 1648. He was born in Mil- 
ford in this state, July, 1774. In 1792, when eighteen years 
of age, he came to Norfolk, and opened a store in what 
was then a part of the Humphrey house, on Beech Flats, 
as is mentioned in another place. A few years later he 
built the store near the northwest corner of the meeting- 
house green, as it was then called, where he conducted a 
very extensive and profitable business until his death in 
November, 1841. That he was a remarkable man in many 
ways, there is the fullest possible evidence; not simply as 
a most successful business man, a rarely public spirited 
man, foremost in every good work in the town and the 
whole region, but he was also a man of great kindness of 
heart, thoughtful of others, not only of his own friends, 
but ready to assist anyone in trouble. This kind and 
thoughtful trait is illustrated by an act of his, mentioned 
in a letter which has come into the writer's hands, which 
was written in August, 1816, by a native of this town. Dr. 
Salmon Moses, addressed to his father, Mr. Thomas Moses. 
The young doctor was looking for a place to settle and 
commence the practice of his profession. He had travelled 
about quite a little in western Massachusetts, met with re- 
peated disappointments, and as he says in his letter, ''I 



446 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

concluded to go to Petersburgh, in the state of New York, 
and at Dalton, seven miles east of Pittsfleld, I went to the 
place where I directed my medicines to be left, and found 
Esq. Battell in the store. On relating the circumstances 
to him he took me into the counting room and said, I con- 
clude you did not expect this additional expense, and asked 
if I had money sufficient. On telling him I should want 
more than I had, he gave me a ten dollar bill, and I gave 
him my note. This favor I shall ever remember with grati- 
tude." This trifling circumstance showed a noble, generous 
spirit. 

Quoting from the family memorial: 

"In the year 1792 Mr. Battell, eighteen years of age, settled on 
the village green, having at his father's solicitation elected the life 
of a merchant rather than one of the professions. He prosecuted his 
calling in the way which lingered in Litchfield County till within 
a few years, receiving from the farmers the products of the dairy, 
and forwarding them to Hartford, Hudson, and New York. His 
trade was extended to other towns, and to foreign ports, and he 
was brought into close personal acquaintance with the people 
of an extended neighborhood. The capital of the county, Litch- 
field, had its festivals and gatherings, its court term, its agricul- 
tural, missionary, and musical associations; all giving to the county- 
life of those times an intensely active, as well as an elevated social 
character. 

Mr. Battelle from being at first a country merchant, was grad- 
ually led to engage in other enterprises, and prominently, such as 
were opened or suggested by the occupation of wild lands in Ver- 
mont, New York, and Ohio, by settlers from Connecticut. His 
gains were rapid and sure, and he very early acquired the repu- 
tation of being one of the ablest men of business, and one of the 
most prominent in the State. As his family increased and grew 
up, his house became the centre of a large circle of visitors, who 
were entertained With sincere hospitality. His daughters gath- 
ered about them a great number of friends from towns and cities 
more or less remote, with whom they often exchanged visits. The 
stately house, which still stands upon the village green, was often 
thronged with guests, when it never failed to overflow with joyous 
life. Mr. Battelle was eminently intellectual in his habits and tastes, 
a great reader, as his well selected and diligently studied library 
attested. The quick-minded and never resting mother, who was 
also a great reader, was true to her traditions as a minister's daugh- 



HISTORY Oi^ NORFOLK. 447 

ter, and held fast to the faithful discipline which became a Chris- 
tian household. She kept her children in constant and close as- 
sociation with the church and the parsonage. The influence of 
the entire family was identified as closely as possible with the 
religious life of the people of Norfolk, and their sympathies and 
aid were always generous and prompt for the comfort and relief 
of the suffering. As the manifold missionary and other associa- 
tions, for the progress of the kingdom of God, came one by one into 
being, the sympathy and contributions of Mr. Battell and his fam- 
ily cheerfully responded to them all. Their house was a home 
for clergymen, and a centre for all ecclesiastical and religious meet- 
ings of local and general interest. Literature of every descrip- 
tion gave strength and training and culture to all the household. 
Music, vocal and instrumental, was prosecuted with indefatigable 
zeal and with unfailing delight. This interest extended to the vil- 
lage church, which was one of the few churches in city or country 
that could boast an organ at the time when Irene, a girl of eleven, 
began to play upon it." 

Esq. Battelle, as he was universally called, married Sarah, 
a daughter of Rev. Ammi R, Robbins, the first minister in 
this town, Mrs. Robbins was a great-granddaughter of 
William Bradford, Governor of the Plymouth Colony, and 
granddaughter of Francis LeBaron, a surgeon in the French 
service, whose strange arrival and settlement in Plymouth 
and his life there is so vividly portrayed in Mrs. Austin's 
work, "A Nameless Nobleman," and others. 

As might be expected from her distinguished ancestry, 
Mrs. Battelle was a lady of much force of character and 
worth, and was a power for good, not only in the pleasant 
surroundings of her beautiful home and her large and influ- 
ential family circle, but also in the entire community. An 
illustration of her readiness to take the lead in any and 
every good work of a public nature is given in the fact 
that at the re-furnishing of the church in 1846, she led the 
women of the church in their labor for many days, running 
into weeks, in hatchelling the corn husks and making the 
cushions for the entire lower part of the house and the 
choir gallery. She died September 23, 1854, aged 75. 

"Mrs. Battelle, in her natural endowments, combined both the 
vigor and delicacy of organization apparent in her mental devel- 



448 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

opments. Her complexion was fair, hair and eyes darli, her per- 
son small, features intellectual and graceful. Through life she 
combined a resolution and force of mind, quickness and strength 
of the affections, and a deep relish for harmony and beauty as 
they appeal to the senses. She lived identified with native scenes, 
and though widely known desired nothing beyond the sphere of 
her friends for opportunities of usefulness or enjoyment. Her 
tastes sympathized with the beauty of nature, directing to the cul- 
ture of native trees, and the nurture of plants and flowers, in every 
kind adapted to the season. Mrs. Battelle ever honored her father 
and family by showing herself a firm and generous friend to the 
ministers of Christ. She appeared to esteem them highly in love 
for their woi'k's sake. In her religious character there appeared 
great uniformity and stability with sincere piety." 

Her purpose, of presenting a Communion Service to the 
church of which through life she was a devoted member, 
was carried out by her daughters after her death. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Battelle were born nine children, four 
sons and five daughters, all of them living until advanced 
life. The eldest of the family was Joseph, who from in- 
heritance and education possessed all the excellent business 
qualities and traits of character of his distinguished father. 
At an early age he was placed by his parents for some time 
in an educated French family in Montreal, that he might 
acquire a thorough knowledge of, and be able to speak 
fluently, the French language. 

At the death of his father, when Joseph was thirty-five 
years of age, the care and management of his father's large 
estate was placed upon him, and until his death in 1874 he 
continued most satisfactorily to every member of that large 
family to fulfill that important trust. 

In a private family memorial, the following "brief sketch 
of Mr. Battelle's life and characteristics, written soon after 
his death by his valued friend. Rev. Dr. R. S. Storrs,'' was 
published, from which we are kindly permitted to quote: 

"Joseph Battelle— born April 17, 1806, died ,Tuly S, 1874,— was 
a man of whom some things may now properly be said, to which 
his habitual and fastidious reserve would have forbidden any ref- 
erence during his life. In the business circles with which he was 
associated during a long commercial life, he was constantly recog- 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 449 

nized as a merchant of rare industry and sagacity, and of tlie most 
scrupulous integrity, who had well deserved the signal success 
which he had reached. 

But it may be doubted if even those who knew him best as 
a business man, were always aware of the extent and variety of 
his intellectual attainments, of the accuracy of his knowledge on 
a wide range of subjects, of his delicate and discriminating literary 
taste. Born in Norfolk, Conn., in 1806, he was graduated at Mid- 
dlebuiy College in Vermont, in 1823, at the age of seventeen years, 
ranking second in a class, of which Professor Conant, the eminent 
Biblical scholar and critic, was the valedictorian. He made himself 
master of the French, German, and Spanish languages soon after 
leaving college, at a time when the study of the last two especially, 
was rare in this country; and he was through life a diligent and 
appreciative student of the best English literature. Influenced 
probably by the example and wishes of his father, he early engaged 
in business as a merchant, finding a congenial associate in the late 
Thomas Egleston, with whom his partnership continued in unbroken 
mutual confidence and regard until the death of Mr. Egleston. But 
his interest in literature never ceased, although with a charac- 
teristic and scrupulous reserve, he allowed it to appear only to 
those most intimate with him. One who had been his minister 
for years, did not learn till near the end of them, and then by 
chance, that when Mr. Battelle followed the reading of the Scrip- 
ture, Sunday by Sunday, it was with his eye on the Greek of the 
Septuagint, or of the New Testament, and not on the English trans- 
lation. Independent in his judgments, rapid and positive in his 
decisions, those who had occasion to know him only in a general, 
external way, would possibly fail to be attracted by him. But in 
moments of leisui-e, in seasons of relaxation, among his friends, 
he was one of the pleasautest of all companions. Cheerful in tem- 
per, courteous in demeanor, original in thought, abundant in witty 
and humorous anecdote, he added to the charm of every social 
circle in which he was familiar. Shrewd in judgment, energetic 
in expression, genial in feeling, the force of his strong individu- 
ality gave zest and piquancy to his conversation. As a presiding 
officer, too, in meetings for deliberation, or for the transaction of 
business, he was always distinguished for the grace and dignity 
with which he performed the duties of his office. Born of the 
genuine Puritan stock, Mr. Battelle was through life a firm be- 
liever in the evangelical doctrines in which he had been trained, 
a careful and attentive attendant on public worship, a liberal sup- 
porter of religious institutions and charities. Besides large gifts 
to institutions of learning, like Yale College, whose new chapel is 
to bear his name, he aided liberally other objects of public im- 



450 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

portance, and privately contiibuted to the success of many who 
will long remember and greatly miss his timely benefactions. Most 
of all, his sisters and brothers, to whom, after their father's death, 
he was the constant counselor and friend, have had reason to trust 
him with all their hearts, and will have reason to mourn his de- 
parture from them while life continues. He died after a brief 
illness, with a settled and tranquil trust in God. an unreserved 
submission to his will and an earnest avowal of his sole reliance 
upon the Lord Jesus Christ for that salvation for which he hoped." 

Among Mr. Joseph Battelle's gifts of large sums of 
money to various objects, it seems appropriate in this 
sketch to mention his interest in Yale University, this in- 
terest having been first awakened, it is said, by his sister, 
Mrs. Professor Larned. From the "Table of Gifts" in the 
book "Yale/' published in 1899, we quote: 

"In 1854 Mr. Joseph Battelle gave $5,000 to establish a musical 
fund, for the support of a teacher of music. To this fund in 1862 
Mrs. William A. Larned added $5,000, and bequeathed another $.5.- 
000, to be applied in extension of the services performed under 
Mr. Battelle's donation." 

"In 1874, by bequest, and by previous gifts, Honorable Joseph 
Battelle gave 'Battelle Chapel' Two Hundred Thousand Dollars. 

"Since 1876, when the Battelle Chapel was finished, the musical 
service is supported by an organ of very superior construction, 
principally the gift of the almo.st solitary friend of music at the 
College, Mrs. William A. Larned." 

"Mrs. Larned also endowed a Musical Libraiy. With the in- 
come of this donation all the worlis of Handel, Bach, Beethoven 
and Mendelssohn have been purchased," etc. 

From this same 'table of gifts' it is shown that Yale 
University has received, in addition to |215,000 mentioned 
above, and the endowment of the Musical Library, and the 
organ in Battelle Chapel, for various purposes, viz.: The Uni- 
versity Library Fund, for Increase of Endowment of Battell 
Professorship of Music; for founding the 'Ellen Battell 
Eldridge Scholarships'; for the 'Enlargement of Battell 
Chapel'; for 'Professorship of Semitic Languages.' and 'for 
general purposes,' by Mrs. Ellen Battell Eldridge, Mrs. 
Urania Battell Humphrey, Mr. Bobbins Battell, and Miss 
Anna Battell, more than $107,000. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 451 

Surely Yale University has reason to remember and 
honor the Battelle family. 

It is hoped that through this beneficent family the little 
mountain town of their nativity may not be altogether for- 
gotten and unknown. 

A sketch of Sarah, the eldest daughter of Esq. Battell, 
who married Rev. Joseph Eldridge, D. D., and spent her life 
in this, her native town, as the efficient and beloved "wife 
of the minister," will be found, with a sketch of Dr. El- 
dridge, in another chapter. 

Another daughter of this distinguished family was Irene, 
born November, 1811. "She was baptized by her grand- 
father, Rev. A. R. Robbins, receiving 'the gentle name of 
Peace,' after his sister, Mrs. Irene R. Thompson." Fortu- 
nately, in a volume entitled "Memories," printed privately 
for the family and friends, there is a worthy tribute to the 
life, work and memory of "An Elect Lady," Mrs. Irene Bat- 
tell-Larned, from which we are kindly permitted to quote. 
These extracts will be read with deep interest by many 
former residents of the town, now in advanced life, whose 
only acquaintance with Mrs. Larned perhaps was, that in 
her and their early life she used to play the organ and sing 
in church in Norfolk, and to the writer's certain knowledge, 
that music has been one of the sweet and pleasant mem- 
ories, to many, all through life. 

Some mention has already been made of her early home. 
Referring to this home we quote from "Memories: 

"It was in this rural home and amid these domestic, social, and 
religious influences, that she was trained. It is impossible to un- 
derstand her character without keeping them all in mind. 
She seemed to have inherited from her father in a marked 
degree those traits which so fondly endeared him to her,— rare 
kindness and generosity of heart, great refinement, and ready sym- 
pathy for any work of henevolence. From her earPiest childhood 
she manifested a singular devotion to the comfort of others, and 
a generous absorption of self in the interest of her kindred, the 
suffering, and the church of God. 

She possessed uncommon personal beauty. She was some- 
what stately in form, and bore herself with a natural dignity which 



452 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

was tempered with so much grace, and softened by such sweet- 
ness of expressiion as to make her loving ways more attractive, 
and to impart a subtle charm to her manner. She had unusual 
physical strength and powers of endurance, which continued un- 
impaired through the buoyant days of lier youth. Her universal 
kindness extended to all classes; to the uncultivated as truly as 
to the most accomplished, and the more highly favored. Her 
"natural piety," or what seemed such, took definite form, when at 
the age of fourteen she publicly assumed the vows of the Chris- 
tian profession. To these vows she was eminently faithful to the 
last moment of her life. In all the varied excitements of her youth, 
amid all the social gayeties of her girlhood, and the varied acquaint- 
anceships with which she was brought in contact, she was true 
to her Master, and was never ashamed of her profession, or in- 
consistent with the spirit and demeanor of an earnest and loving 
disciple. . . . "Her seriousness of demeanor was so marked in 
her early childhood, that she was sometimes called in the house- 
hold, "Sober Reny." It was rather the earnestness of her nature 
that so impressed itself upon her countenance. ... I have told 
you of the care she assumed in the nursery, while mother was oc- 
cupied among her flowers, and in household duties, beginning with 
myself, whom she rocked, sitting in the cradle at my feet, and 
singing the solemn tune of Denmark. At eleven years of age she 
played the church orgau, and continued to do so until her marriage. 

When absent from home, engaged in the prosecution of her 
studies, she would be recalled from school to participate in all cele- 
brations, whether of a religious or secular character, to whose suc- 
cess her musical talents invariably contributed. She was instant 
in season and out of season in training young people in the art of 
holy song. To all who evinced an aptitude to learn she was a will- 
ing and indefatigable teacher on the piano, and at night she would 
gather about her those desiring instruction in vocal music. Hour 
by hour she would sit in the freezing atmosphere of the church, to 
drill bass, tenor, soprano, and contralto in their respective parts, 
in preparation for ordinary church music, or an occasional concert. 
One says, "She threw her whole soul into these concerts, impart- 
ing courage to the timid, correcting and assisting every one who 
had a part to perform, and always doing this so kindly that every 
one felt it a privilege to be under her criticism." . . . 

"And so music became our pastime. At every gathering, in- 
doors and out, party, sleighride or picnic, we sang; and we gained 
from music that pure enjoyment which protected us against the 
introduction of other amusements that doubtless would have proved 
far less satisfactory. 

My sister made confession of her faith under the ministry of 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 453 

Rev. Ralph Emerson in Norfolk, July, 1827. She combined the 
untiring diligence of Martha with the loving confidence of Mary. 
She inherited a most vigorous constitution, and her admirable phys- 
ique enabled her to endure great fatigue and ceaseless activity in 
her works of mercy, throughout her girlhood as well as in later 
life. Watching night after night, seemed to be a pastime, and 
in the illness of any of our family circle she would not remit her 
watch and care for an hour, unless forced to do so by the patient in 
charge. Our dear father's death occurred November 30, 1841. 
From that dread event, almost the first shadow that had crept over 
our home, my poor sister's hands hung down, and none but God 
could lift them up. But He triumphed in her faith, and she re- 
sumed iier place with greater devotion to her family and to those 
who mourned or suffered, than ever before, though from that time 
her health seemed somewhat impaired. She clung to the memories 
of her youth with remarkable tenacity. Her last work at Norfolk 
was to superintend the erection of a monument to her beloved 
brother, Joseph, and among her latest legacies were those pro- 
viding for a permanent stone enclosure to protect the town burial 
ground, and a memorial music hall to be attached to the home in 
which we were all born and reared. Her last illness was the sud- 
den yielding of the forces of nature. The silver cord being loos- 
ened, she resigned herself to the will of the Creator. Surrounded 
by her family friends at her beloved home in New Haven, the 
heavens opened, and she passed into the open vision, to be seen of 
those on earth who so much loved her, no more, till they too shall 
enter into the inheritance secured to all who trust in our blessed 
Lord. 

Mrs. Larned's last effort of praise in song was the night before 
her voice was silenced here forever. She often desired her nurse 
to sing favorite hymns, and that night requested her to sing, "There 
is a land of pure delight." The nurse responded in an unfamiliar 
tune. She said, "not that tune," and tried to sing the old familiar 
air of 'Jordan,' but the effort was beyond her strength, and she 
could not proceed." 

"After her marriage in July, 184.3, to Professor Larned of Yale 
College, her home was in New Haven, and those who were asso- 
ciated with her there will tell us how fruitful in blessing was her 
life. She was ever ready to contribute to society all that her 
natural gifts and fine culture enabled her to bring for its delight 
and elevafion. She was devoted to her friends, deeming no task 
too trivial or too great, if by assuming it she could serve them. By 
her cordial hospitality and beautiful courtesy she made her house 
a home for many, and a charm for all. By abundant labors and 
substantial aid she proved her devotion to the college and to the 



454 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

prosperity of the church. Many, who were students in Yale Col- 
lege, felt a deep sense of personal loss as they have heard of her 
departure. Many will ever gratefully cherish her memory, as they 
recall her kindness, and the friendly and delicate ways she would 
take to find out and relieve their needs for sympath3% counsel, or 
assistance." 

"Allusion has been made to her first great sorrow in the loss 
of her father. Her mother's death a few years later, was an over- 
whelming grief. 

In 1868 there was a day of dreadful darkness in her house, 
when her beloved husband who had left her a few hours before, 
appai-ently in exuberant health, was brought in to her blighted 
home, lifeless. Hidden disease had suddenly luimasked itself, and 
he was gone, without a word or look of farewell to her who was 
his light and joy. . . . This terrible calamity cast a shadow over 
her remaining life that made it pathetic, while she still struggled 
to keep on her way wherever she could yet hope to be of use or 
comfort. In 1874 she was called to mourn the departure of her 
beloved 'elder brother,' Joseph, in whom, especially after the death 
of her husband, she concentrated her love and ministrations with 
peculiar and touching devotion. 

Soon after his death she wrote to her sister: "My life is desolate 
without my brother. I do not suffer myself to think of my loss, 
if I can help it, and to avoid it, I wander in mind and body into 
any occupation, seeking to be absorbed, until it seems as if all 
power of thought or action had vanished. But when I think of our 
blessings; that I have you and all the others; that you are in com- 
fortable health, with food and raiment, friends and home.— I can 
see how wrong it is to complain." 

"During the winter of 1877 Mrs. Larned's condition of health 
caused her friends serious anxiety. The silver cord was indeed 
loosening, but that to which the anchor within the veil was se- 
curely fastened, grew brighter and stronger day by day. Errands 
of mercy were the last interests that drew her from her house. 
After she had become so enfeebled that her friends remonstrated 
against her attempting any effort, she would still steal away on 
some mission of love. In one instance she walked a long distance 
to visit an intemperate man whom she had befriended, and who 
she feared would again yield to temptation if he missed the re- 
straining influence of her sympathy and encouragement. On the 
5th of May, 1877, she breathed her last blessing and farewell.' 

Next to the youngest son of Esq. Joseph Battelle was 
Robbins, born April 19, 1819; graduated at Yale in 1839, 
and spent much the larger part of his life in this, his na- 




ROBBINS BATTELLE. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 455 

tive town, being through life a very prominent man in all 
the interests and affairs of the town and state, and doing a 
great number of things of a public nature which showed his 
ardent attachment to his native place and the people. 

From a memorial of Mr. Battelle, published soon after 
his death, we are permitted to make some extracts, as 
follows: 

"Mr. Robbins Battelle attended Dr. Hall's famous old school 
at Ellington, Conn., fitting for College there, and was graduated 
from Yale College in the class of 1839. He and his classmate, Mr. 
Richard Storrs Willis, took great interest in the music performed 
at the college chapel, Mr. Battell always playing the flute at divine 
service. 

After the death of his father he resided at the ancestral home 
at Norfolk, caring for the interests of his brothers and sisters, call- 
ing himself a farmer, studying and experimenting to improve the 
live stock of the region with an interest that remained with him 
to the end. His larger abilities were early recognized, and he was 
called upon for counsel and service in many lines. He became 
a settler of disputes and healer of breeches. In time larger honors 
and titles came to him. He was the last Colonel of the Litchfield 
County militia who succeeded in keeping the organization alive. 

"He several times represented the town in the State Assembly, 
and once was the Senator from this district. He was for a time 
State Comptroller; for many years a trustee of the State Hospital 
for the Insane; was the representative of this part of the state on 
the corporation of the A. B. C. F. M., and for a time President of 
the Connecticut Historical Society. In all of these positions he 
acquitted himself with high honor. 

"In 1874 the death of his oldest brother brought to him new 
responsibilities, as the head of the family and trustee of a large 
property. This necessitated his breaking away from his old man- 
ner of life, and compelled him to spend most of his time in New 
York, though he kept his legal residence where his heart was, here 
in the hills. Though coming to these new cares late in life, he man- 
aged them with a skill and success that evoked admiring com- 
ment from those experienced and eminent in such affairs. August 
15th, 1849, he married Miss Ellen R. Mills of Newark, N. J., and 
after only nineteen months of married life he was widowed for all 
his remaining years. 

"He was for a long period Judge of probate for Norfolk, treas- 
urer of the town and of its church, and trustee of the cemetery, 
which he greatly beautified. 



456 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

In 1861 he was a delegate to the Peace Convention at Wash- 
ington, just prior to the breaking out of the civil war. 

"During the years of the civil war he was offered by Gov. 
William A. Buckingham, military rank and honors, but from family 
necessities and councils he refused them; yet through those terrible 
years he served the country, being Governor Buckingham's confi- 
dential adviser and aid, in the gathering of troops and appointment 
of officers throughout the county. 

"His musical talents were early developed and carefully culti- 
vated. He gave his services freely in the teaching of singing 
schools and the training of the church choir, of which he was for 
more than forty years, and until his last sickness, the chorister. 

"Few men possessed musical abilities of as high an order as 
Mr. Battelle, and he has given to musical literature that which 
will stand the test of time, his best known contribution to sacred 
music being a setting to the hymn, "Abide with Me." His com- 
position, "Evening," is a good reflex of a quiet summer evening 
among the Norfolk hills. His beautiful "German Trust Song" has 
been sung in many churches and homes. 

"Mr. Battell's delight was to lift up the standard of music in 
his own town and vicinity. In the days of the summer concerts 
on Norfolk Green, given years ago by the 'Diller Octet,' his aim 
was not to charm people's ears for the moment, but to educate 
and elevate their musical appreciation. 

"In matters of art it was the same as with music. When he 
built a picture gallery and library as an addition to his home, and 
opened it freely to the public, he remarked that he especially de- 
sired to cultivate the taste of his townspeople in matters of art, 
and adopted this method of doing it. For years his rare and costly 
collection of paintings was open to all comers. 

"Tears ago, in connection with Mr. Bradford, a surveyor, Mr. 
Battelle measured all of the higher hills in Litchfield County, and 
made the discovery that Bear Mountain, in Salisbury, has an eleva- 
tion of 2354 feet, making it the highest point of land in the state, 
and disproving the ridiculous statement made in the ninth edition 
of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, "that there is no land in Con- 
necticut over a thousand feet in height." On Bear Mountain Mr. 
Battelle had constructed a huge cairn of rough stone, which can 
be seen for many miles in all directions. The stone contains an 
inscription stating that it marks the highest point of land in Con- 
necticut. The discovery of the elevation about Norfolk led 
Mr. Battelle to call attention to its beauty and healtfifulness as a 
summer resort, and boarders soon began to come. Almost the first 
was the late Rev. Doctor Gage of Hartford, followed by Rev. 
Doctor Burton, an enthusiast on the subject of Norfolk scenery. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 



457 



Since that time Norfolk's prosperity has been constantly growing. 
Mr. Battelle bought several tracts of land about the town com- 
manding extensive views, built roads to them, and gave a per- 
petual right of way over them to the public. 

"When the observatory was built on the top of 'The Haystack,' 
which was one of the many deeds by which Mr. Battelle increased 
the attractions of the town, he caused to be placed upon it a granite 
tablet bearing an inscription which he trusted would be a perennial 
inspiration to all who climbed the mountain and looked out over the 
hillsides that many of us love so well. On that tablet you may 
read: 



THOMAS ANTHONY THACHER 




OF BLESSED MEMORY 




WROTE THIS INJUNCTION, 


TO THY GOD, 


TO BE HERE INSCRIBED. 


TO THY COUNTRY, 


DEO 


TO THY FAMILY, 


PATRIAE 


TO THY TOWN, 


FAMILI^ 


BE THOU EVER FAITHFUL. 


MUNICIPIO TUO 




SEMPER ESTO FIDELIS. 





"This inscription, so felicitous in its expression, so noble in 
conception, was the offspring of Mr. Battelle's own thought. There 
it stands, telling to all who will hear what this man, our friend and 
often benefactor, held to be the formative principles of a noble life. 

"This inscription would be most fitting on his tombstone; for 
'to his God, his fatherland, his family, and his town he was ever 
faithful.' 

"This was a man to act, rather than to tell how he acted; to 
do without seeming, rather than to seem to be doing." 

"Perhaps Mr. Battelle's greatest gift was in the line of music. 
Competent judges declared that had he pursued this art he would 
have become eminent in it. During the time of the civil war he set 
to music and published a number of negro melodies. His principal 
melodies were of a religious nature. He took pleasure in sending 
his compositions to his friends, not because they were his own, but 
because he believed they helped to elevate religious thought. 

"His taste was of the nicest and his ear for musical sounds 
phenomenal. 

He was greatly interested in church bells, and made a number 
of discoveries in their tones which puzzled even so eminent a mas- 
ter of acoustics as Helmholtz. His services as an expert on bells 



458 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

were frequently called for by intending purchasers, and he in- 
variably gave them without charge. He gave bells to several 
churches, and also gave a model chime to his own church at Isor- 
folk; also a chime to Williams College, Northfield College, and 
other institutions. In addition to the chime, Mr. Battelle gave 
largely to Williams College for other purposes." 

Soon after his death, which occurred January 26, 1895, 
Mr. J. Cleveland Cady of New York wrote Mr. Battelle's 
daughter, in part as follows: 

"I want to tell you how deeply I sympathize with you in the 
great loss you have experienced, a loss felt by the large number 
who admired and loved your father, and which is a calamity to 
you, who have been so much to him, and have cared so tenderly 
for him. But, aside from the life immortal, to what an extent such 
a noble character really lives, long after passing from us! Do we 
not find that some such friends seem almost as really alive as 
others who are only temporarily absent? 

"Your dear father was one especially calculated to remain a 
living presence in the hearts and minds of his friends. His quali- 
ties were rare ones in this restless, hurrying, noisy, self-seeking 
world. To me he was the embodiment of calmness, patience, high 
and unselfish purpose. 

"To many he will always be a living character,— absent now 
only a little longer than usual. It is not the ending of a blessed 
companionship, but only an absence for a time. His personality 
is meantime a living presence in the heart, and the days of absence 
will end with the ushering in of 'life more abundant.' " 

MRS. URANIA BATTELL HUMPHREY. 

Another of the distinguished members of this family was 
Urania Battell Humphrey, born May 30, 1814, at Norfolk, 
Conn. Died November 19, 1887, at New York. From a 
Memorial of Mrs. Humphrey, privately printed soon after 
her death, we are permitted to make some extracts. 

''The funeral of Mrs. Humphrey took place at her apart- 
ments in the 'Florence House,' New York, November 21, 
1887. The services were conducted by the Reverend 
Richard S. Storrs." In his address Dr. Storrs said: 

"It wants but a few months of fifty years since I fii'st met the 
beloved friend at whose funeral service we are gathered today. It 
is more than forty years since I became her pastor, and at the time 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 459 

when tliat happy and affectionate relationship began it seemed as 
if all the promise and expectation of her early life were to be 
realized. I remember an entertainment at her house in Brooklyn, 
forty-one years ago this coming Christmas, at which she presided 
like a queen; and I am saddened as I think, that with the excep- 
tion of my wife and myself, not a single one of those who were 
then present to share her hospitality is now living on the earth. 
As we know, in the after years she had to meet many sorrows; 
sorrows that came sometimes unexpectedly, and which were the 
heaviest which she could have been called upon to bear in her 
sensitive experience. Once I remember perfectly her saying to me, 
"There is one grief which I know God will spare me, — the death of 
my husband. I could not survive that; I am sure my heart would 
break, and I am confident that that will not be permitted to come 
to me." But it did come, and came, as we remember, with great 
suddenness, and with an overwhelming power of affliction. 

"Other deaths came: of her mother, her brother, her sisters, and 
her sisters' husbands, to whom she was very tenderly attached; 
deaths of those in her husband's family whom she loved as well; 
the deaths one after another of each of her children, in the bright- 
ness and grace, the beauty and bloom of life. Where the promise 
had seemed greatest, these many successive sorrows came to her; 
more, I think, than to any other person whom I have known as 
pastor,— more in number, coming in the saddest series, and each one 
of peculiar severity. Of course there are different results which 
might have been realized in her experience out of this singular, 
one might almost say this continuous suffering. . . . We know 
how she retained to the last her affectionateness of nature. We 
know how patiently she submitted when at last came the stroke 
upon her own pei'son. We know with what sweet and filial confi- 
dence she has awaited the end, which at last she has met. We 
know that the spiritual sensibility which was always rich and 
tender in her, never failed. I don't know that I ever saw a woman 
more tenderly moved than she was when her husband, whom she 
devotedly loved, came by his confession of the faith into the 
Church of Christ; or when afterward the daughters followed him. 
. . . There is always a blessing peculiar to those who have 
come unto God out of great tribulation. It is a very sweet promise 
which I have read, that in the city to which we journey there shall 
be no more sorrow, nor pain, nor death, for the former things are 
passed away, and God shall wipe away all tears from every eye." 

Among Mrs. Humphrey's benefactions, mentioned in the 
Memorial, in addition to the Battell Chapel in Norfolk, are 
her gifts to the 'Long Island Historical Society,' as follows: 



460 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

"December, 1887. 

"The Board of Directors of the Long Island Historical Society 
has had the pleasure of receiving an official notice of the bequest 
of Ten Thousand Dollars, made to it by the will of Mrs. Urania 
Battell Humphrey, for many years an honored resident of Broolilyn. 
The husband of Mrs. Humphrey, Hon. James Humphrey, who for 
several years represented one of the districts of this city in Con- 
gress, and the memory of whom is still fresh among all who knew 
him, had been from an early date a member of this Society, and 
one of its Councillors. After his death Mrs. Humphrey, in fulfill- 
ment of a wish which he had expressed, gave to our Library the 
admirable portrait of Chief .Justice Marshall, which her husband 
had possessed and justly prized, and which has been since among 
the chief ornaments of our rooms. She added also a large number 
of rare and valuable volumes which had been collected by her 
husband, and which were given as a memorial of him. When our 
present building was erected she gave two thousand dollars to the 
Building Fund, to which she afterwards added six hundred and 
fifty dollars for supplying a special alcove with biographies of 
women, or with books written by women, together with a choice 
collection of works on music. 

"She has now crowned the series of her gifts to the Library by 
the largest bequest which the institution has thus far received; 
and the Directors are sure that all members of the Society will feel 
a keen gratification at the fact that, after years of absence from 
Brooklyn, and of the wearying pain and weakness of an invalid life, 
this lady, for many years brilliant and distinguished in the social 
life of the city, should have so generously remembered this insti- 
tution. 

From the address of Rev. John De Peu, pastor of the 
Congregational Church in Norfolk at the time of the dedi- 
cation of the 'Battell Chapel' in Norfolk, December 13, 1888, 
we quote: 

"The best memories of the dead are not those that are erected 
in their name by kindred and friends, but those that they them- 
selves, in life, erected in the name of God. 

"The Battell Chapel on the Green in Norfolk, Connecticut, will 
stand for all who knew Urania Battell Humphrey and her ancestry 
as her most appropriate monument. Her monument not less truly, 
but even more appropriately, in the fact that witTi her native 
modesty she insisted that her name should not appear on its walls. 

"The memorial tablet bears the simple inscription which she 
dictated: 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 



461 



TO THE TRIUNE GOD 

IN MEMORY OF 

JOSEPH BATTELL 

AND 
SARAH BATTELL. 



"The erection of the Chapel, as indicated by this inscription, 
was prompted by both Christian and filial piety. While those who 
knew her admired her fine traits of character, Mrs. Humphrey 
always gratefully recognized how much she owed to her ancestors. 
Her inheritance from them was precious, for it was throughout an 
inheritance of Godliness. . . . It is not surprising that with 
such parents Urania Battell Humphrey should have conceived the 
idea of erecting a memorial of them, which should continue to con- 
nect their names with the church they loved and served. 

"Her thought finally took definite shape early in the spring of 
1887, when she accepted from Mr. J. Cleveland Cady of New York, 
Architect, plans for a chapel, to be built of granite from the hills 
that surrounded her home. 

"Work was begun on the building that spring. Mrs. Humphrey 
watched its growth from day to day with loving interest, and saw 
the exterior nearly completed before her return to New York in 
October. Then the Lord called her to worship in the house not 
made with hands. The work was continued by a bequest left by 
her, and completed by her heirs and her brother and sister. A 
stained window was put in, in her memory, by her son-in-law. Dr. 
Charles U. Shepard, of Charleston, S. C. 

"On December 13, 1888, the Chapel was given by deed to the 
First Ecclesiastical Society of the town of Norfolk, fcff the religious 
uses of the Congregational Church, and was dedicated "to the 
Triune God." The simple services were deeply impressive. The 
room was filled by those who had known Mrs. Humphrey and her 
parents. . . . 

"The deed was presented to the representative of the society by 
Robbins Battell, acting for himself and the other donors, and was 
received with resolutions of thanks by the society. . . . The 
Chapel was first used in the regular services of the Church on 
Friday evening, December 14, 1888, for the usual weekly prayer- 
meeting. 

"Simple, solid, and well proportioned, granite and slate without 
and polished oak within; the inner walls frescoed in russet and 
yellow and gold; lighted through side windows of cathedral glass 
in soft tones; the western end above the pulpit glorified by the 



462 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

sunlight streaming through the memorial window of opalescent 
glass, with the cross in the center,— the building is a sermon in 
stone,— a fit memorial of those whose names are on Its walls, and 
of the daughter who gave it." 

The following action was taken by the Congregational 
Church at its annual meeting, January 11, 1889: 

"Whereas, The Ecclesiastical Society connected with this church 
has received from the late Urania Battell Humphrey and her heirs, 
and from Robbins and Anna Battell, the gift of the Battell Chapel, 
by them erected in memory of Joseph Battell and Sarah Battell, 
to be held for the religious uses of this Church in perpetuity; there- 
fore be it 

"Resolved, That we render thanks to God . . . that he put it 
into the hearts of his servants to build a house for the name of the 
Lord, "the Triune God." And congratulating them on their in- 
heritance, we also tbanli them for their gift to us. That we see 
in the solid structure, built from native granite, and in its beautiful 
and harmonious decoration, a fit memorial of those in whose mem- 
ory it was erected. Their lives belong to the history of this town 
and of this church. . . . We pray unto the Father that, emu- 
lating the godly ones who have gone before, we may be built 
together in truth and righteousness an holy house, upon the foun- 
dation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the 
chief corner stone." 

MISS ANNA BATTELLE. 

Another one of this family who possessed many of the 
noblest traits which beautify and adorn the life and char- 
acter, who lived a quiet life, whose work and worth were 
best and chiefly known by her own family and in her large 
circle of friends, was Miss Anna Battelle. She remained 
through life in the old home, and after the death of her 
mother, in 1854, how royally she presided in and dispensed 
the honors of the old family mansion. 

Miss Battelle was best and chiefly known to those out- 
side of her family circle through her work in the church, 
of which she was a life-long devoted member, a constant 
attendant and active worker, foremost in the work of the 
Ladies' Aid Society; for a long period of years the leading 
soprano singer in the large chorus choir, and the lady 
superintendent of the Sunday School from the time that 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 463 

Grandma Welch, who was the first one in the church to 
hold that oflSce, was compelled by the infirmities of age 
to lay down her work in 1865, until she, too, from impaired 
health, was compelled to pass the duties of her office to her 
successor. Miss Mary Eldridge, who now fills that position. 

She was closely identified with her brother Bobbins, and 
other members of the family, in their many gifts for various 
purposes, for the permanent improvement of this town, 
notably the building, equipping and sustaining the Robbins 
School, completing the Battell Chapel in this town, large 
gifts to Yale College, and to many other worthy enter- 
prises. 

Miss Anna Battel le died December 30, 1889. At her 
funeral Rev. John DePue, her pastor, said of her in part 
as follows: 

'"She was by descent a daughter of the Pilgrims and the Pun- 
tans, of Covenanter and Huguenots; the Bradfords and Warrens of 
the Mayflower and Old Colony; the Buckiughams and Shermans of 
the Massachusetts Bay settlement. Nathaniel Robbins and Francis 
LeBaron united to give to their descendants a double portion of 
conscience and resolution. English, Scotch and French, — statesman, 
soldier, clergyman and physician gave to their issue clarified and 
active intellect. 

A quiet life, spent in a Christian community close beside the 
church; walled about by the everlasting hills, fed by the beauties 
and grandeur of nature, the inspiration of literature and art, nour- 
ished by the warmest family affection and neighborly friendship, 
deepened, widened and exalted by the Spirit of the living Christ, 
had a chance to form itself at length into a perfect whole, like a 
jewel, clear and flawless, reflecting the glory of the Lord. 

As the community at large knew her, the most prominent 
factor in her life was her loyalty to her family, her church, and 
native town. She was what she seemed to be. Her mind was 
clear and penetrating: her judgments, just and trustworthy. She 
thought before she spoke or acted, and would rather show her 
thought by action than by speech. She knew the truth as revealed 
through Jesus Christ. It was the true loyalty which means devo- 
tion. 

From her girlhood she served Christ and the Church in the 
choir. For more than twenty years she had been the Lady Superin- 
tendent in the Sunday School. For years she had been the leader 
In the work for home missions, at the West, and the needy ones 



464 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

here at home. It was a joy for her to do for others to the full 
abundance of her means. When she knew her mortal Illness was 
upon her, through the last month, when her end was very near, 
she was largely occupied planning for the New Year's gifts, that 
have for so many years made this day unique in this community. 

Her life was by choice quiet and retired, and no one had a 
keener appreciation of friendship than had she. No one received 
and treasured more tenderly and gratefully the words and the gifts 
that brought her the witness of others' love. She was not de- 
monstrative, but her stillness was that of depth. God does not 
give us many such friends, but one such makes the joy of a life- 
time. 

PHILIP BATTELL. 

"Philip Battell was the second child of the family of nine chil- 
dren of Joseph and Sarah Battell. Entering Yale College, he re- 
mained there two years, when he joined his elder brother at Mid- 
dlebury College, where he was graduated. Afterwards he studied 
law, practicing his profession some years, a part of the time being 
in Cleveland, Ohio. He then returned to Middlebury, where the 
remainder of his long life was spent, honored and loved by all for 
his sterling qualities as citizen, neighbor and friend. Mr. Battell 
had passed his ninetieth birthday only a few days previous to his 
death, which occurred December, 1897. His pastor at his funeral 
paid a feeling tribute to the character of Mr. Battell, who, he said, 
embodied in the highest degree all that is implied in the term, a 
Christian gentleman. He will long be remembered by his large 
circle of acquaintances as a man singularly kind and charitable 
in his judgment of others; of gentle and sweet disposition, and of 
unfailing courtesy. 

He was specially interested in the observance of Forefathers' 
Day. Genealogy also claimed his active interest, and he corre- 
sponded widely on the subject. 

Thus passed away the last one of a large and distinguished 
family, widely known and honored." 

MRS. ELLEN BATTELL ELDRIDGE. 

It remains to speak briefly of the youngest member of 
the Battelle family. In a private memorial of her it is said: 

"Entered into the rest that remaineth for the people of God, 
October 5, 1893, Ellen Battell Eldridge, youngest child of the late 
Joseph and Sarah Battell, and widow of the late Reverend Doctor 
Azariah Eldridge of Yarmouthport, Massachusetts. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 465 

Mrs. Eldridge was born at Norfolk, and spent her earliest years 
here, receiving from her cultured parents the liberal education 
which they bestowed upon all their children. In 1849 she was mar- 
ried to the Reverend Azariah Eldridge. The earlier years of their 
married life were spent in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and at 
Detroit, Michigan, where Dr. Eldridge was settled over the Fort 
Street Presbyterian Church. 

After leaving Detroit, Doctor and Mrs. Eldridge resided in 
Paris, France, where he was in charge of the American Chapel. 
On their return to this country they purchased the ancestral home 
of the Eldridge family at Yarmouthport, naming it 'The Haven,' 
where they lived for the remainder of their lives. Doctor Eldrfclge 
dying there October 1, 1888. They had one child, Anna Battell 
Eldridge, who died in childhood. 

During her residence in Yarmouth, Mrs. Eldridge's life was 
mostly given up to philanthropic objects. The number of her 
charities will never be known. She not only gave, but gave wisely 
and well. She presented to the Chapel of Yale University the 
clock and chime of bells now in use, and also added a large sum 
of money to the fund for musical instruction in the University. 

Through Mrs. Eldridge's addition to this fund the instructorship 
of music was raised to a full professorship, and a separate depart- 
ment established. 

Mrs. Eldridge had been an invalid, and for several years had not 
visited her native home. A few days previous to her death, di- 
vinely led. she returned here, saw again the happy scenes of her 
youth, the hills and valleys of her native town, the dearly beloved 
home of her birth, and the kindred she was so soon to leave. As 
peacefully and gently as she had lived, she passed away in the 
home of her fathers." 

Professor Joseph Emerson of Beloit, Wisconsin, a few 
days after the death of Mrs. Eldridge, wrote to her brother, 
Robbins Battelle: 

"Word has come that your sister is at rest,— Blessed rest! And 
her works do follow her. So the choir of your sisters is again com- 
plete, no more to be broken. And what a wonderful harmony it 
was and is, here and in the Father's home. Sarah, with her 
abounding fullness of genial life; Urania, with her admirable 
womanhood; Irene, the model of every grace; Anna, with her 
queenly dignity; and now Ellen, that child of truth and trust, 
whose sympathy and helpfulness wei'e such a blessing in your 
home and community, in the home and work of my noble class- 
mate, her husband. The kindly grace of early years must seem 



466 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

to have passed on undisturbed from the fellowship of your child- 
hood home to the reunion in the Father's home, and the everlasting 
thanksgiving. May we all be fhere." 

Professor Joseph Emerson, who penned these words of 
tender love, himself a native of Norfolk, companion in 
early childhood of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph 
Battell, son of Rev. Ralph Emerson, D. D., born in Norfolk 
in 1821, for many years an honored and beloved professor 
in Beloit College, Beloit, Wisconsin, has recently passed 
over ''to the reunion in the Father's home, and the ever- 
lasting thanksgiving." 

The announcement has been made of his departure from 
earth at his home in Beloit, August, 1900. 

'They are gathering homeward from every land, 
One by one! One by one!' 

Another son of Rev. Ralph Emerson, born in Norfolk, 
is living at Rockford, Illinois; — Mr. Ralph Emerson, ''Presi- 
dent of the Emerson Manufacturing Company, Standard 
Agricultural Works." 



XXVIl. 

THE WELCH FAMILT. 

"The first of the name in this town was Hopestill Welch, 
who in the part of Windham, Conn., which is now called 
Hampton, married Alice Woodward, May 12, 1762, both 
being natives of that place. They lived in their native place 
for a few years; afterwards for a time at Windsor, and re- 
moved to Norfolk about 1772, and lived here for more than 
fifty-five years. Mr. Welch was born in 1741, and died in 
this town March 9, 1828, aged 87 years. Mrs. Welch died 
June 3, 1828, aged 82 years. Hopestill Welch served as a 
soldier in the French war, under General Putnam and 
others, and was also a soldier in the Revolutionary army, 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 467 

and a pensioner as Sergeant, after 1818. He was a black- 
smith and lived near the school-house on Pond Hill. Mr. 
and Mrs. Welch were members of the Congregational 
Church. They had thirteen children, — three sons and ten 
daughters. 

Alice, married Joel Walter and died in Norfolk, leaving no chil- 
dren. 

Vine, married Estlaer Coggswell; was a blacksmith; removed to 
Ohio about 1812, and died at Euclid, Ohio, at more than ninety 
years of age. He had a large family of children. 

Benjamin, studied medicine, and is mentioned at length below. 

Sarah, married Enoch Searles, from Vermont; they lived in 
Norfolk and Shalersville, Ohio. Sullivan Searles, one of their 
sons, was a constable in Norfolk in 1831, and afterwards wenf 
West. 

Eunice, unmarried; lived with and died at the home of her 
brother. Dr. Benjamin Welch, December, 1846, aged 74. 

Abigail, married Joseph Gay lord of Norfolk; removed to Ply- 
mouth, Illinois, and died in Kansas at a great age. 

Susanna, married Abraham Thompson of Goshen. They re- 
moved from Goshen to Hudson, Ohio, about 1800, as pioneer set- 
tlers. She was a noted school teacher. 

Lucy, married first Joel Walter, who had before married her 
oldest sister, Alice Welch. She married, second, Mr. Tyler. She 
married, third, Enoch Searles, who had before married her sister, 
Sarah Welch. Her only child was the late Judge Joel Walter 
Tyler of Cleveland, Ohio. 

Charlotte, married Nathan Jenks of North Providence, R. I. 
They lived in Canaan, Conn., and Albion, N. Y. 

Elizabeth, (Betsey,) married Jonathan Pettibone, son of Col. 
Giles Pettibone of Norfolk. They settled fifteen miles from Ply- 
mouth, Illinois. 

Hopestill married Eunice Stevens, and settled in Blanford, 
Mass., as a physician. Being out of health he started with a horse 
and sleigh to visit his sisters in Ohio. On the journey he became 
suddenly worse and died at Geneva, N. Y., aged 25 years. His only 
child was Samuel Stevens Hopestill Welch. 

Phebe Sophia, married Daniel Welton of Goshen. They went 
west and died at Beloit, Wisconsin. Her only child, Phebe Sophia, 
married Stephen Obed Humphrey of Goshen, and died at Beloit in 
1874. 

Olive, married Ezekiel Wilcox of Norfolk and removed to 
Shalersville, Ohio. 

A century ago the belief in signs and portents was almost uni- 



468 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

versal. The following tradition is well authenticated. In 1810 
Hopestill Welch lived near Pond Hill Schoolhouse. He had a large 
family, several of whom had removed to Ohio. One morning at 
breakfast Mrs. Welch, then an old lady, said she expected bad 
news that day. She had slept but little through the night, and 
once felt sure she heard the tolling of a death bell. Her daugh- 
ters tried to cheer her up, but the mother persisted in saying "You 
will see." Days passed, perhaps weeks, and tidings came of the 
death of the youngest son, at the age of twenty-five years. 

He was a physician, named for his father, Hopestill, and after 
a long illness had started with a team for the west to visit his 
friends, hoping the journey and change would be a benefit to him. 
When near Geneva, N. Y., he was taken suddenly worse and died 
there among strangers, on the very night that his mother thought 
she heard the tolling of the bell. 

Benjamin Welch, M. D., third child of Hopestill and Alice 
Welch, was born at Windsor, Conn., February 3, 1768, and 
in childhood removed with his father's family to Norfolk, 
where he lived for more than three-quarters of a century, 
and died December 17, 1849, aged 82 years. He was the 
"Beloved Physician," and his funeral sermon by Rev. Dr. 
Joseph Eldridge was published. Dr. Welch studied medi- 
cine with Dr. Ephraim Guiteau of Norfolk, and October 31, 
1788, married his daughter, Louisa Guiteau. She died De- 
cember 6, 1816, aged 47 years. He married second, Eliza- 
beth Loveland of Glastonbury, November 12, 1817. She 
died September 27, 1867, aged 80 years. 

The children of Dr. Benjamin and Louisa Guiteau-Welch were 
Asa Guiteau, born July 31, 1789; married Phebe Stevens of Nor- 
folk. He died at Lee, Mass., August 13, 1851. She died November 
18, 1862, aged 70 years. They had no children. 

Irad, born 1792; died 1796. 

Luna Selina, born July 23, 1795; married John D. Bidwell, Esq., 
of Tyringham, now Monterey, Mass. She died December 29. 1873. 
aged 78 years. Mr. Bidwell died May 27, 1867, in his 75th year. 
Their only son. Dr. John Welch Bidwell, practiced medicine for 
many years, and died in Winsted, April 19, 1897, aged 72 years. 

Benjamin, born May 24, 1798; married Sarah Beebe of Win- 
chester. He died at Salisbury October 9, 1873, aged 75 years. She 
died November 30, 1875, aged 70 years. They had no children. 

Louisa Pamela, born March 28, 1801; married Rev. Ira Petti- 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 469 

bone. She died at Winchester April 8, 1865, aged 64. He died June 
11, 1889, aged 88 years. 

Alice, born April 28, 1804; married Rev. Henry Cowles, D. D., 
the eminent divine of Oberlin, Ohio, and author of many volumes 
of Commentaries upon the Prophets, and other boolis of the Bible. 
Dr. Cowles died at Oberlin, September 6, 1881. Mrs. Alice Welch 
Cowles died at Oberlin October 14, 1843, aged 39 years. Of their 
six children, two are living (January, 1900): J. G. W. Cowles of 
Cleveland, Ohio; and Sarah, Mrs. Thomas H. Little, for many years 
Superintendent of the State Institution for the Blind, at Janesville, 
Wisconsin, having been chosen at Mr. Little's death as his suc- 
cessor in that position. She was a graduate of Oberlin College. 

James, born January 7, 1807; married Lavinia M. Hubbard of 
Salisbury. They celebrated their Golden Wedding in 1881, and lived 
for more than fifty years in Winsted. He died November 22, 1886, 
aged 80. She died January 2, 1882. Of their six children, two are 
living: Dr. Edward H. Welch, who succeeded to his father's medical 
practice in Winsted, and Dr. William C. Welch of New Haven. An- 
other son. Dr. John B. Welch, a young man of much promise, en- 
tei'ed into his country's service as surgeon in the army, in the War 
of the Rebellion, and died in the service. 

Phebe Sophia, born Feb. 3, 1810; died August 3, 1822. 
The sons of Dr. Benjamin Welch and his second wife, Eliza- 
beth Loveland-Welch. 

William Wickham, born December 10, 1818; married Miss Eme- 
line Collin, of Hillsdale, N. Y. She died in 1850. He married sec- 
ond, Miss Emily Sedgwick of Cornwall, sister of the late Major 
General John Sedgwick, who survives him. Dr. William W. Welch 
spent his life in the practice of medicine in his native town, and 
died July 30, 1892, in the house where he was born, aged 74. His 
sou, Professor William H. Welch of Johns Hopkins University of 
Baltimore, has made a distinguished name for himself already. He 
is mentioned below. 

Mrs. Emma Walcott, of New York Mills, N. Y., is the daugh- 
ter of Dr. William W. Welch. 

The youngest child of Dr. Benjamin Welch was John Hopestill; 
born March 18, 1827; married Elizabeth M. Bell of Cornwall. She 
died December 22, 1876. He died in Hartford, January 8, 1893. 
They had five children, one son and four daughters, the eldest of 
whom, Mrs. Ellsworth D. Ives, is a resident of Norfolk. The son, 
John W. Welch, was long Treasurer of the Dime Savings Bank, in 
Hartford. The other daughters are, Mrs. George D. Harrison of 
Lakeville, Mrs. Everett P. Curtiss, and Mrs. Andrew F. Gates, of 
Hartford." 



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HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 471 

was for many years justice of the peace, and generally the active 
one when business was to be transacted. 

Such is the brief historical notice of Dr. Welch. Were I to 
stop here, I should be unjust to my own feelings, and to the senti- 
ments of all here present, especially of the more aged persons here, 
whose recollections go back to the scenes of active exertion, in 
which the deceased passed the whole of life, save the few years 
last past, during which he has been disqualified for labor by the 
growing infirmities of age. My own heart and your wishes prompt 
me to say something of his character. 

Dr. Welch, both as a man and a physician, possessed and ex- 
hibited all those qualities that inspire confidence and win regard. 
For his day he was eminently qualified for his profession. He 
gathered knowledge from books, and was constantly adding to his 
stores from the results of his own large and long continued ex- 
perience. In practice neither rash nor timid, he reached a safe and 
happy medium. In his disposition he was eminently kind, and 
free from all tendency to impatience or irritability. Unwilling to 
give pain, and eager to relieve distress, he was yielding in trifiing 
matters, but decided and firm on occasions of serious importance. 

He was prompt in meeting every call, as much so if made by 
the poor, as if made by the rich. No exhaustion, no state of the 
weather or roads, prevented his setting out. Be it cold or hot, wet 
or dry, summer or winter, night or day, he spared no exertions to 
meet every demand upon his skill and aid. From what I have 
learned from all quarters, the amount of unrequited labor which 
he performed during his long professional career was incalculable. 
The art of collecting he never acquired, and in fact received but 
a small portion of his dues from those able to pay. ISevertheless 
he never complained, and so long as his strength held out, he abated 
not his efforts. He was, indeed, too forgetful of himself, — too re- 
luctant to insist on his just demands. 

His domestic affections were tender and strong. He was happy 
in his family, and contributed much to make his home an abode 
of peace and joy. His hopes in regard to his children had been 
realized. Of his five sons, he lived to see every one engaged in 
the same profession to which his own life had been devoted, and 
not undistinguished in it. 

Many years ago he embraced the Christian faith. He firmly 
believed the doctrines, and relied on the saving provisions of the 
Gospel. Its consolations solaced him amid the infirmities of age, 
and its hope cheered him as he consciously approached the con- 
fines of the future world. His toils are over; his work is done; 
he has gone to his rest. He will be seen no more, as in former 
years, traversing, in all weathers and seasons, every part of this 



472 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

town. His venerable form will no more attract the attention of 
strangers, as it used to do, in ttie house of God. He will no longer 
be found at his own door, ready to welcome with cheerful smile 
and cordial greeting, every visitor. . . . His children will all cher- 
ish his memory, and peculiarly favored are these sons, in having 
had before them so complete a model in the very line of their pro- 
fession. . . . This day, fellow townsmen, we have to follow to 
the grave one, who during his life was eminently useful here; one 
who had endeared himself to all; one who died without an enemy 
in the world; one upon whose monument we are prepared to en- 
grave, as expressive of our real sentiments, and as a fitting epi- 
taph, the words of the text,— "The Beloved Physician." 

MRS. LOUISA GUITEAU WELCH. 
MKS. ELIZABETH LOVELAND WELCH. 

*'Mrs. Louisa Guiteau Welch, the first wife of Dr. Ben- 
jamin Welch, was a woman of talent and excellence, of 
delicate health, and her work w^as mostly at home. Her 
children, six of whom reached maturity, partook of her 
ability and of her love of truth. She was not a member of 
the church, but Mr, Emerson said at her funeral, '*We sor- 
row not as those who have no hope." 

Her original gravestone said, "Her many virtues are to 
her friends the most precious mementoes." 

"Nov. 12, 1817, Dr. Welch married as his second wife 
Miss Elizabeth Loveland, then thirty years of age, and 
daughter of John Loveland of Glastonbury, Conn. From 
this time until her death in 1867, at the age of 80 years, 
her home was in Norfolk, and she was the friend of all the 
people. Two sons were born to her, and besides the care of 
a large family she found time to do much for others. Her 
door was always open and her welcome hearty for each 
child and grandchild and all the remote kindred, as well as 
for neighbors and friends. 

She was a refined and beautiful woman and possessed a 
lovely character and rare tact. An earnest Christian, she 
loved the church, was an active worker in the Sunday 
School, and much interested in the cause of missions. 

Daily and continued prayer was her habit, and at evening 




THE WELCH BROTHERS. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 473 

time a hush often fell upon the group of playful and noisy 
children, "because Grandma had gone away to pray" in her 
room. 

Words cannot do justice to her worth." 

Of Mrs. Elizabeth Welch, who half a century and more 
ago was fondly known by almost every Sabbath School boy 
and girl in the town as "Grandma Welch," it could most 
truthfully be said that her very presence anywhere was a 
blessing and a benediction, whether at her home or among 
her neighbors and friends, — upon joyful occasions, or in 
homes where there was sickness and sorrow, — in public or 
in private. She was one of the very first in the town in- 
terested and instrumental in the organization of the Sun- 
day School, in about 1825. She was at the time of the 
organization of the school chosen its 'Lady Superintendent,' 
and held the position continuously until the close of her 
life. How we little children watched for Grandma Welch 
to come to our class, as she passed around through the 
school with her basket, containing books for the little ones, 
and copies of 'The Dayspring,' probably the first child's 
paper printed in the country. She had a pleasant word for 
every teacher and child, and knew us all by name. For 
several years she had the care and training of her two 
grandchildren, after the death of their mother, Mrs. Dr. 
William Welch, which occurred October, 1850, at the age 
of 28, leaving an infant son six months old. Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Welch "passed over unto the other side" September 
27, 1867, aged 80 years. "Her children," and those to whom 
she was "Grandma Welch," scattered all over the land. 
"Arise up and call her blessed." 

ASA G. WELCH, M. D. 

Dr. Asa G. Welch studied medicine with his father and prac- 
tised with him for several years. In 1814 he removed to Tyring- 
ham, Mass., where he lived for thirteen years, having an extensive 
ride, and where he built a fine mansion for his own use. About 
1827 several prominent business men of Lee, Mass., gave to him a 
formal invitation to settle in that town. This invitation he ac- 
cepted, and continued in active practice in Lee until his death in 
1851. He accumulated a handsome property for the times. 



474 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

He was a successful physician, having splendid tact for his pro- 
fession. He was a public-spirited man, a wise counselor and a 
pillar of strength to his friends. He was a portly, fine looking man 
and of commanding presence. 

He became interested in politics, and in 1835-6 represented the 
town in the legislature and in 1851 was elected to the State Senate. 
He was a warm personal friend of the late Governor Hull of Mas- 
sachusetts. 

BENJAMIN WELCH, JE., M. D. 

Dr. Benjamin Welch, Jr., graduated at the Yale Medical School 
in 1823, and afterwards spent one year at the Jefferson Medical 
College in Philadelphia, to perfect himself in the knowledge of 
anatomy and surgery. He also for a time assisted the eminent Dr. 
Everest of Canton, and was benefitted by the culture and training 
of one of the leading surgeons of that day. 

About 1825 he located in his native town of Norfolk, and quickly 
became the leading surgeon in this part of the state. After seven- 
teen years in Norfolk he was at Litchfield for four years and in 
1846 went to reside in Salisbury, which was his home until his de- 
cease. He spent 54 years in the arduous practice of his chosen 
profession. 

Soon after 1850 Dr. Welch began at Lakeville (Salisbury) the 
manufacture of splints for fractures, invented and patented by 
himself. The splint for a broken thigh was especially ingenious, 
for by a curious mechanical arrangement, of extension and counter- 
extension, it could be lengthened or contracted without removal. 
The splints are commended in Prof. Samuel D. Gross's "System of 
Surgery." 

Dr. Welch was the pioneer in this department, and though the 
business was not pecuniarily successful, its establishment marked 
a new era in the treatment of broken bones. 

He was prominent in all public matters and town affairs, and 
a strong pillar in the church and Ecclesiastical Society during the 
years when he was in the practice of his profession in this his na- 
tive town; and professionally his old friends never forget him. He 
was often called in severe cases in counsel, surgical and others, to 
come back to Norfolk, the common expression being, "don't gtve 
up all hope before you have sent for 'Doctor Benjamin.' " 

At his funeral at Lakeville, Dr. Adam Reid, pastor of the Con- 
gregational Church at Salisbury, said: "Dr. Welch was a man of 
sense and intelligence; of sterling moral worth as well as of Chris- 
tian principle. In tlie department of surgery especially, his skill 
was deemed pre-eminent, and was sought for, far and near." Dr. 
Eldridge, his pastor in Norfolk, said of him: "He was strong, in- 




WILLIAM W. WELCH, M. D. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 475 

telligent, upright, just, and right. Always calm, wherever duty led 
him he deliberately went. He was a man to see and to do, rather 
than to talk. His death is a great loss to his family, neighbors, 
this whole region, the country, and the Church of Christ." 

JAMES WELCH, M, D. 

Dr. James Welch graduated at the Berkshire Medical Institute 
at Pittsfleld, Mass., in 1830 under such teachers as Prof. Childs and 
Prof. Parker, who were his life-long friends. 

He then spent a few months at Sandisfield, Mass., in the prac- 
tice of his profession. In 1831 he removed to Winsted and, except 
for a short absence, was an active physician until his death in 1886. 
He did an extensive consulting business in the County in addition 
to his large regular practice, and to an unusual degree kept abreast 
with the times. His cheerfulness was unvarying, his common sense 
unfailing, his memory remarkable, his sympathy and tact always 
ready, his discrimination keen, and his judgment generally correct. 
He was a kind, genial man and a courteous Christian gentleman. 
He was a sincere friend, and his friendship was worth having. He 
was public-spirited, doing all in his power to forward all moral and 
business enterprises. 

He had an extended reputation for the successful treatment of 
Typhus Fever, and it was well deserved. 

WILLIAM WICKHAJI WELCH, M. D. 

Dr. William Wickham Welch was one of Norfolk's best beloved 
and most honored citizens. For more than fifty years he prac- 
ticed his profession in his native town, and for many years was 
frequently called in counsel through the county and state. He 
was graduated from the Yale Medical School in 1839, and was a 
Fellow of that Institution. Dr. Welch represented his town in 
the General Assembly during the years 1848, 1850, 1869, and 1881, 
and was State Senator from the Seventeenth District in 1851 and 
1852. He was a Representative in Congress from the Fourth Con- 
gressional District of Connecticut from 1855 to 1857. 

He was a wise counselor; always deliberate in his judgments, 
he rarely had reason to reverse them. He was a man of peculiar 
strength of character, with a great love for humanity, which was 
deepened and broadened by his profession. While his love for his 
native town was as enduring as the hills which surround it, his 
patriotism was broad, and his love of country and faith in her in- 
stitutions, unwavering. One of his profession well says of him: 
"He was a noble type of the American physician; liberal in his 



476 HISTOEY OF NORFOLK. 

views, kind, courteous and hospitable in tiis manner, stately in his 
bearing. 

His unassuming, honest ways made him ever genial, hopeful, 
and sunshiny— traits that we all love and respect. Dr. Welch's in- 
fluence, character and life will long be remembered and revered." 

In his funeral discourse Dr. Hiram Eddy said : 

"On these everlasting hills, Norfolk has grown and matured 
many noble specimens of humanity; but none more noble and more 
deeply to be lamented than Dr. William Welch. He was a son 
who has honored an honored family. He was a physician who has 
adorned a noble profession. 

"When the sad tidings came to me that Dr. William Welch had 
gone within the vail whence no traveller returns, a vision of great 
manly beauty, both physical and moral, rose before me. I had 
looked upon him with admiration and love for nearly thirty-nine 
years. I have never met him but with a sense of high apprecia- 
tion and profound respect, both as a man and a physician. 

"He represented to me all we understand by the word 'gentle- 
man.' Although so robust in his physical make-up, so strong, yet 
the word had to be applied to him in its most delicate sense; truly 
a gentleman; gentle in his ways, gentle in his salutations, gentle in 
his oft coming repartees. The quality of rough was not there, al- 
though an abundance of strength. His was that gentility which 
has its foundation in a profound reverence and love of humanity. 
This was what imparted such a high tone to his professional char- 
acter, which he so highly honored. 

There are men who, however high and holy the profession may 
be, honor the profession more than the profession can possibly 
honor them, and Dr. William Welch was one of those men. Al- 
though honored outside of his profession by the elective choice of 
the people, yet no higher honor could he receive tha'n that which 
he received in his devotion to the healing art. Here was his life 
work; here were his sacrifices, and they were many. Here were 
his victories, and they were many more; here was his joy, his si- 
lent enthusiasm, which burned down into the socket; burned until 
the scalpel, and the probe and the medicine, in aid of Natui-e's reme- 
dial action dropped from his hand. Today ministering to his pa- 
tients; the next day finishing his long and honored career. 

"Never have I known a physician whose presence in the sick- 
room was so sweet and encouraging a benediction. He had a sym- 
pathetic courage for his patient, and the patient caught it like a 
contagion. The warm, sincere and cheerful feeling for his patient 
was an anodyne which helped his prescriptions. His goodness had 
a healing power. His touch, when examining the pulse and diag- 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 477 

nosing the disease, was a professional touch indeed; but it was 
more; it was a touch of kindness; you loved to have him feel your 
pulse, and the pulse itself felt a sort of thrill, and wanted to be 
as he would like to have it. While his quiet and unostentatious 
sympathy, one of the powers of the ideal physician, was conspicuous 
in Dr. "Welch, still this warm sentiment was connected with a pro- 
found skill, that called him in council and practice, over the State 
and out of it. His presence and skill have been invoked, and 
brought him into more sick rooms in all this region during his long 
professional career than any other man. He understood his work. 
He was an honest and loving physician, and therefore was skilful 
and thorough. These two qualities, briefly referred to, namely, 
true, humane sympathy, without which no man has any right to 
be a physician,— and profound skill, formed for him a character, 
that made him beautiful as a man; brought him confidence and 
trust as a physician. 

"I don't know that he ever thought he was making sacrifices 
when on errands of love and mercy. I have seen him with his car- 
riage, a light gleaming under it, in the darkest nights, and in storms 
as dark, visiting his patients; in hundreds of cases it was a deed 
of love, with no remuneration but that which love brings. Thus 
for half a century his lantern has flashed over these hills, in these 
by-roads, and among these eternal rocks. 

"The light has been snuffled out, as by a breath of wind on these 
hills; but the fragrant light of his memory will shine on, in cabin 
and in mansion, thousands of hearts still feeling the genial touch 
of a loving friend and devoted physician, whose commanding and 
genial presence always brought comforting thoughts and feelings. 
The poor will remember him with the profoundest and most tender 
affection, for he was their care-taking friend. He has embalmed 
himself in the hearts of all this region. He was a citizen who has 
honored and served his town, county and state; and what need we 
say more?" 

JOHN HOPESTILL WELCH, M. D. 

Dr. John Hopestill Welch was the youngest of the five brothers, 
all of whom were at one time in active practice within thirty miles 
of Norfolk, and all now lie buried with their father in the family 
lot in the Norfolk cemetery. Dr. Welch was graduated from the 
Pittsfield Medical College in 1848, and began practice in New Hart- 
ford, and afterwards practised in Salisbury, and Cornwall, and 
came to Norfolk in 1856, where he practiced medicine till 1871, 
when he removed to Hartford. 

He represented the town of Norfolk in the General Assembly 
of 1861. After removal to Hartford he was not in active medical 



478 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

practice, except among his friends, who were loath to give up his 
advice and counsel. 

Interest in Life Insurance engaged his attention for a number 
of years. 

One of Norfolk's successful manufacturing interests, now known 
as the Norfolk and New Brunswick Hosiery Company, received its 
first encouragement and capital from Drs. William and John Welch, 
as is mentioned elsewhere, and was originally "The John H. Welch 
Company;" the pioneer in the knitting business in this region. 

Dr. Welch was a genial, whole souled man; a most successful 
physician and true friend. He was of attractive personality, had 
an unusual gift of winning friends, and was a good judge of men. 
His executive ability and promptness enabled him to make the 
most of many opportunities. He died from pneumonia at the age 
of sixty-five, deeply regretted by a wide circle of relatives and 
friends. 

SAMUEL COWLES. 

An eminent family connected with the Welch family, unknown 
to most residents of this town in these later years, was that of 
Samuel Cowles, who in the early part of the present century lived 
in the South End district, and a few years later moved over the 
line into the town of Colebrook. Two of the sons of Samuel and 
Olive Phelps Cowles, his wife, became very celebrated men in their 
day. Some of the Commentaries upon the "Minor Prophets," and 
other books of the Bible, by Rev. Henry Cowles, D. D., are to be 
found in old libraries in this town. Dr. Cowles married Alice, 
daughter of the Senior Dr. Benjamin Welch. A grand-daughter of 
Dr. and Mrs. Cowles is Mrs. Alice Welch-Doane, wife of Rev. John 
Doane, pastor of Plymouth Church, Lincoln, Nebraska. 

KEV. HENRY COWLES, D. D. 

Rev. Henry Cowles, D. D., of Oberlin, Ohio, died Sept. 6, 1881. 
He was born in Norfolk, South End, April 24, 1803, the eldest son 
of Samuel Cowles and Olive Phelps Cowles. His parents soon re- 
moved to an adjoining farm in the South West angle of Colebrook, 
where their eleven children were reared and trained. Henry and 
his younger brother, afterwards Rev. John P. Cowles of Ipswich, 
Mass., the famous educator, prepared for College at home, usually 
reciting to Rev. Ralph Emerson at Norfolk once a week. They 
graduated at Yale College in 1826, one the valedictorian and the 
other the salutatorian of the class. 

Dr. Cowles was pastor of the church in Austinburg, Ohio, from 
1830 for five years. 

In 1835 he was called to join the Oberlin enterprise, begun two 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 479 

years before, and he continued as Professor in the College until 
1S4S. From 1848 to 18G2, when it was suspended under pressure 
of the war, he gave his time and strength to the editing of the 
Oberlin Evangelist, a paper almost unknown to the people of this 
day. 

Soon after 1862 he began work upon his Commentary upon the 
Bible, issuing first "The Minor Prophets." He said his purpose 
was "to reach the full and exact thought in these sacred words and 
then to present it with clearness, brevity and force." 

In the nest eighteen years he issued sixteen Volumes of Notes 
covering the whole Bible. Some months before his death he exe- 
cuted a deed of gift of the copyrights of all his Commentaries to 
three great benevolent societies: the American Board of Commis- 
sioners of Foreign Missions, the American Home Missionary So- 
ciety, and the American Missionary Association, with the provision 
that they shall continue the publication and distribution of the 
volumes and receive the profits. 

LOUISA WELCH PETTIBONE. 

The children of Rev. Ira and Louisa Welch-Pettibone were Ira 
Welch Pettibone, graduated at Yale College in 1854. Was by Gov- 
ernor Buckingham appointed Colonel of the Tenth Regiment Conn. 
Volunteers, and served in that position in the war of the rebellion. 
He was for several years Principal of the "Winchester Institute." 
Was Professor in Beloit College, and for many years an honored 
teacher in the Chicago High School. 

Asa Guiteau Pettibone was the first Cashier of the Norfolk Bank, 
established in 1856, and afterwards became its President. Has 
been a successful business man in Indianapolis and Chicago. He 
now resides at New York Mills, N. Y. 

Benjamin Welch Pettibone, now resides at Winchester, Con- 
necticut. He graduated at Amherst College, and for ten years 
was the efiicient teacher of the "Winchester Institute." He is 
fond of local and other history, and is an acknowledged authority 
in his part of the state, upon historical and other subjects. 

Mary Louise Pettibone married the late A. A. Smith, Editor of 
the "Ogdensburg Daily Journal," and the "St. Lawrence Repub- 
lican." 

PROFESSOR WILLIAM H. WELCH, M. D., LL. D. 

Of one of the sons of this town who has already attained 
great distinction, who is known and recognized as an emi- 
nent scholar, teacher and authority in his profession 
throughout this, our broad land, in Europe, and beyond, 



480 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

whom every true son of Norfolk would gladly honor, we are 
pleased to be able to present a brief sketch: 

William Henry Welch, M. D., LL. D., the son of William Wick- 
ham Welch, M. D., and Emeline Collin Welch, was born in Nor- 
folk, April 8, 1850. He received his earliest education in the schools 
of his native place, and was prepared for college in the Rev. Ira 
Pettibone's school in Winchester, Conn. 

Entering Yale College in 1866, he was graduated A. B. in 1870. 
The year following graduation he was principal of a school in Nor- 
wich, N. Y. In 1871-'72 he studied Chemistry in the ShetHeld Scien- 
tific School, and in the autumn of 1872 he entered the College of 
Physicians and Surgeons, (Columbia University,) New York, from 
which he received the degree of M. D. in 1875. He served as in- 
terne in Bellevue Hospital, N. Y., for eighteen months, after which 
he studied in Strassburg, Leipzig, Breslau, and other German Uni- 
versities, for two years, devoting himself chiefly to Pathology. 
Upon his return in 1878 to New York he was appointed demon- 
strator of Anatomy, and soon after Professor of Pathological Anat- 
omy in the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, where he estab- 
lished a pathological laboratory. He remained in New York, en- 
gaged in teaching and investigating in pathology, until his appoint- 
ment in 1884 to the Professorship of Pathological Anatomy in the 
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. Before assuming the duties 
of the latter position he spent a year in Germany, devoted mainly 
to the study of the new science of Bacteriology, under Professors 
Koch, Flugge and others. On the opening of the Johns Hopkins 
Hospital in 1889 he was appointed pathologist to this institution, 
and on the opening of the Johns Hopkins Medical School he was 
elected Dean of the medical faculty. His work in Baltimoi'e has 
been mainly the teaching of pathology and bacteriology, and that 
of an investigator. He has been active in the promotion of higher 
medical education. 

He has held the positions of President of the 'Medical and 
Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland,' of the 'Maryland Public Health 
Association,' of the 'Maryland State Board of Health,' of the 'Con- 
gress of American Physicians and Surgeons,' and of the 'Associa- 
tion of American Physicians.' 

Dr. Welch has written many monographs and papers in books 
and medical journals, on subjects relating to pathology and bac- 
teriology, and has delivered many occasional addresses on these 
subjects, and on medical education. He was recently presented on 
the twenty-fifth anniversai-y of his doctorate with a large volume 
of contributions to medical science dedicated to him by his pupils. 

He is a member of the 'National Academy of Sciences,' of the 




WILLIAM H. WELCH, M. D. LLD. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 481 

•American Philosophical Society,' of the 'American Academy of 
Arts and Sciences,' of the 'London Pathological Society, and other 
scientific societies in this country and Europe. 

He has received the honorary degree of M. D. from the Uni- 
versity of Pennsylvania, and of LL. D. from the 'Western Reserve 
University,' 'Yale University,' and 'Harvard University.' 

EPHRAIM GUITEAU, M. D. 

Dr. Ephraim Guiteau, born in Bethlehem, then part of Wood- 
bury, settled in Norfolli about 1760. After ten years residence in 
New Marlborough, Mass., after 1770, he returned to Norfolk and 
remained there until his death, April 21, 1816, aged 79 years. His 
elder brother, Dr. Francis Guiteau, was a life-long physician in 
Lanesboro, Mass. The family was of Huguenot extraction, and 
fled from France after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Oct. 
21, 1762, Dr. Ephraim Guiteau was married to Phebe Humphrey, 
daughter of Dea. Michael Humphrey of Norfolli, and tradition says 
theirs was the first wedding in the town solemnized in a frame 
house. Mrs. Guiteau was an excellent woman, and died Feb. 27, 
1828, aged 83 years, having outlived all her children. Their son, 
Philo Guiteau, M. p., died in Norfolk in 1810, and their grandsons. 
Dr. Corydon Guiteau in Lee, Mass., in 1853, and Rev. Sheridan Gui- 
teau in Baltimore, Md., in 1872. With his death the name was ex- 
tinct in this branch of the family. Miss Phebe Sophia Guiteail, 
who died unmarried, was one of the earliest teachers in Norfolk, 
whose name has come down to us. Another daughter of Dr. 
Ephraim Guiteau, Louisa, married Dr. Benjamin Welch, Sen., of 
Norfolk and was the mother of eight of his ten children. 

Dr. Guiteau was an original member of the Medical Associa- 
tion of Litchfield County, formed in Jan., 1767, and composed of 
the most eminent physicians then in practice here. In 1783 he rep- 
I'esented the town in the General Assembly. 

Dr. Guiteau had a good reputation as a physician, and was 
the instructor of many Medical Students, some of them from other 
states. He was in advance of his times as a medical practitioner, 
and was acquainted with the Latin and French languages. 

He was a member of the Congregational Church in Norfolk. 
and at New Marlborough was chosen a Deacon in 1772. After 
his return to Norfolk he united with others in organizing an Epis- 
copal Society in 1786 and meetings were held at his house. 

At a meeting Dec. 3, 1787, it was Voted "To write our wishes 
to the Right Bishop Sebra (Seabury) for a Curate or preaching." 



482 HISTORY OF NOEFOLK. 

FREDERICK M. SHEPARD. 

Norfolk has been remarkably fortunate in retaining the 
affection of numerous sons and daughters who, leaving it 
in their youth to do their life work in other places, remem- 
ber their birth place by many tokens of their appreciation. 

The record of the lives of these children of Norfolk would 
fill many volumes and be helpful to those starting in life 
as examples of what can be accomplished by industry and 
perseverance. 

Among those who have taken a large place in affairs is 
Frederick M. Shepard, the eldest and only surviving son 
of Capt. John A. Shepard of this town, mentioned else- 
where. Although his life in great part has been in the 
city of New York, he has shown his love for Norfolk by 
giving the lawn and fountain at the side of the railroad 
station, the site and grounds for the new Episcopal Church, 
also a large tract of land for a park near the Hillhurst, 
and many other benefactions. 

The following is a sketch of Mr. Shepard's life: 

Frederick M. Shepard was born in Norfolk, Conn., Sept. 24, 1827. 
His early life was spent in Norfolk, attending school, aiding his 
father, and serving as clerk in the store of William Lawrence & 
Co. At the age of eighteen he left Norfolk for employment in the 
store of Collins & Bros., Hartford; from there went to New York 
and foimd employment in the India Rubber business, with which 
he has since been actively identified. In 1853 he was elected Sec- 
retary and Treasurer of the Union India Rubber Co. He is now 
President of that Company, also of the Goodyear Rubber Com- 
pany, The Rubber Clothing Company, The United States Rubber 
Company, and The Lambertville Rubber Company. 

He is also President of the Orange Water Company, which sup- 
plies East Orange, Bloomfield and Glen Ridge, N. J.; President of 
the East Orange Safe Deposit and Trust Co., First President of 
the East Orange National Bank, and Director of the Mutual Bene- 
fit Life Insurance Co. of Newark, N. J. These Corporations, in 
the management of which he takes an active part, and in some 
of the smaller ones is the controlling owner, represent a capital 
of more than one hundred millions of dollars, doing business in 
all parts of the world. 

In addition to business activities he is one of Five Commis- 




I 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 483 

sioners to construct a system of Parks for Essex County, N. J., for 
which four millions of dollars has been raised. He is also Presi- 
dent of the East Orange Free Library, to which Mr. Andrew Car- 
negie has given fifty thousand dollars; also a member of the Ad- 
visory Board of the Orange Memorial Hospital, where in 1896 he 
and his family erected and equipped a pavillion for treatment of 
lung diseases as a memorial for his son, Joseph Minott Shepard. 
He still retains the ownership of the old homestead in Norfolk 
with considerable land, and desiring to do some substantial good 
to his native place undertook five years ago the work of bringing 
water from Lake Wangum on Canaan Mountain to the village, a 
distance of about 4 miles. This supply is of the best in quality, 
and sufficient in quantity to supply Norfolk perpetually. 

In this day of bustling business activity, to find a man who is 
carrying on great business enterprises, and who also devotes time 
to active Christian work, in Church or Sunday School, is a rare 
thing. John Wannamaker of Philadelphia, and John V. Farwell 
of Chicago are notable examples of this kind. Norfolk is honored 
by one of her sons being one of those rare men. 

In about 1880 there was a district in East Orange, N. J., known 
as a hard community, where it was scarcely safe for people to be 
upon the streets at night. A mission Sunday School was opened 
there and has been continuously carried on. The following modest 
words tell the whole story:— 

"For twenty years F. M. Shepard has been Superintendent of 
the Elmwood Mission Sunday School of East Orange, which, be- 
ginning with about thirty scholars, now numbers over four hun- 
dred. A church has been organized, and a building erected which 
will accommodate about 600 persons." The character of the whole 
region has been changed, and it is now as quiet and orderly as any 
part of the town. 

September 28, 1854, he married Annie C, daughter of Theron 
Rockwell of Colebrook, Conn., and they have six children, viz., 
Annie Rockwell, Frederick M., Clara Margaret, wife of Alfred 
Boote; Joseph Minott, died in 1895; John Andrus, and Edith Mills. 
He resided for many years in the city ot New York, but for 
twenty-five years has lived in East Orange, N. J.,— one of the pleas- 
ant suburbs of New York City. 

LAUEA HAWLET-THUKSTON. 
(Feom Biogeaphicai. History op LircHriEi-D County. By Payne Kenyon Kilboubne, 1851.) 

"Mrs. Thurston was the daughter of Mr. Earl P. Hawley, and 
born in Norfolk, December, 1812. Her parents being in moderate 
circumstances, her early advantages for education were such only 



484 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

as were afforded by the common district school. On arriving at 
mature years, however, she found means to enter Mr. J. P. Brace's 
"Female Seminary," in Hartford, where she prosecuted her studies 
with unusual diligence and success, and secured the marlied ap- 
probation of the Principal and teachers. After leaving this insti- 
tution, she was for a few years engaged as a teacher in New Mil- 
ford and Philadelphia, and subsequently became an assistant in 
Brace's Seminary. Here she remained until 1837, when, upon Mr. 
Brace's recommendation, she left Connecticut to talie charge of 
the Academy at New Albany, in the State of Indiana. In 1839 she 
was married to Mr. Franklin Thurston, a merchant of New Al- 
bany. She was at this time a frequent contributor to the western 
papers and periodicals, usually over the signature of "Viola," and 
soon won for herself the reputation of being one of the best female 
writers in the west. 

But in the midst of her growing fame, and ere her dreams of 
earthly happiness had scarcely begun to be realized, death marked 
her for his victim. Yet, when he came to execute his dread com- 
mission, he found her not unprepared. In the bloom of youth and 
health she had consecrated herself to God, and the hopes she had 
long cherished did not desert her as she descended the dark valley. 
When told that she must die, her joyful exclamation was, "Is it 
possible I shall so soon be in Heaven!" She expired on the 21st 
of July, 1842. 

In the autumn of 1843 the author of this volume accompanied 
a literary friend to the 'Childhood's Home' of Mrs. Thurston. Her 
early residence is situated about three miles to the north-east of 
the village of Norfolk, Litchfield county, Connecticut, in a quiet se- 
cluded nook, shut out as it were from the great world; in short, 
just such a place as a poet might choose for the undisturbed indul- 
gence of his day dreams. 

On our way thither we paused for a moment over the founda- 
tions of the now demolished school-house, where in early child- 
hood, my friend had been the school companion of the future 
poetess, and many pleasant reminiscences of those halcyon days 
were called to mind, and related by him as we pursued our way 
down the green lane, toward the cottage which had been her home 
from infancy. The dwelling is a small, venerable looking, wood- 
colored building, of but a single story, located about half a mile 
from the main road, on a path which has the appearance of being 
but seldom traveled. Her father still lives there, and appears to 
take a pride in the growing fame of his daughter. He pointed out 
to us the spot on which she was born, about two miles distant, near 
the borders of a small and picturesque lake, from whence he re- 
moved to his present residence during her first year. He also showed 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 485 

us several of her poems, and gave us the materials from which 
the annexed brief sketch of her history is drawn. 

The following beautiful poem, descriptive of the home and 
scenes of her childhood, the frequent perusal of which first induced 
in us the desire to visit them, is preserved in the Appendix to Gris- 
wold's "Poets and Poetry of America." It was written after her 
removal and settlement in the west, and but a short time previous 
to her death." 

"THE GREEN HILLS OP MY FATHER LAND." 

"The green hills of my father land. 
In dreams still greet my view. 
I see again the wave girt strand. 
The ocean depth of blue; 
The sky, the glorious sky, outspread 
Above their calm repose; 
The river o'er its rocky bed. 
Still singing as it flows. 
The stillness of the Sabbath-hours, 
When men go up to pray; 
The sun-light resting on the flowers; 
The birds that sing among the bowers. 
Through all the summer day. 

"Land of my birth; mine early home. 
Once more thine airs I breathe; 
I see thy proud hills tower above. 
Thy green vales sleep beneath. 
Thy groves, thy rocks, thy murmuring rills. 
All rise before mine eyes; 
The dawn of morning on thy hills. 
Thy gorgeous sun-set skies; 
Thy forest, from whose deep recess 
A thousand streams have birth, 
Gladdening the lonely wilderness. 
And filling the green silentness 
With melody and mirth." 

"I wonder if my home would seem 
As lovely as of yore! 
I wonder if the mountain stream 
Goes singing by the door! 
And if the flowers still bloom as fair. 
And if the woodbines climb, 



486 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

As when I used to train them there 

In the dear olden time! 

I wonder if the birds still sing 

Upon the garden tree, 

As sweetly as in that sweet spring, 

Whose golden memories gently bring 

So many dreams to me. 

"I know that there hath been a change,— 
A change o'er hall and hearth; 
Faces and footsteps new and strange 
About my place of birth. 
The heavens above are still as bright 
As in the years gone by. 
But vanished is the beacon light 
Which cheered my morning sky. 
And hill, and vale, and wooded glen, 
And rock, and murmuring stream. 
Which wore such glorious beauties then. 
Would seem, should I return again, 
The record of a dream. 

"I mourn not for my childhood's hours. 
Since in the far-ofC west, 
'Neath summer skies and greener bowers. 
My heart hath found its rest. 
I mourn not for the hills and streams, 
Which chained my steps so long; 
But still I see them in my dreams, 
And hail them in my song. 
And often by the hearth-fires blaze. 
When winter eves shall come. 
We'll sit and talk of other days. 
And sing the well-remembered lays. 
Of my green mountain home." 

"Who that has been a sojourner in a land of strangers can fail 
to appreciate the beauty and pathos of these exquisite lines? 
Thousands of hearts have felt all that the writer has here por- 
trayed, but who could have expressed those feelings so well? At 
such times how naturally the winged thoughts fly back to our 
fatherland, reviving the scenes hallowed by early associations, and 
re-uniting long-severed links in the chain of youthful companion- 
ship. And how natural it is in our search after happiness, to turn 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 487 

from the joys of the past to the joys of the future! The beautiful 
and quiet picture of domestic felicity which the writer has drawn 
in the concluding stanzas, will be admired in every liindred mind, 
and few will read it without a heartfelt sigh that the gifted spirit 
must so soon have taken its departure from earth, even though 
we rejoice in the full assurance that she has found "a home of 
rest" in a purer and better world. As our eyes rested upon the 
scenes which had once been so dear to her, and which she was 
wont to looli bacli upon with feelings of interest from her new 
home in the far west, it was sad to reflect upon the changes which 
a few years had wrought, not only "o'er hall and hearth," but in the 
absence of many of those simple ornaments which, during her 
residence there, had helped to make up the attractions of the spot. 
The woodbines, which then almost covered the dwelling, soon 
missed the fostering care of her who 

"Used to train them there 
In the dear olden time." 

The flowers which once adorned the doorway and garden walks, 
no longer attract the admiration of the passer by. 

Yet still "The mountain stream goes singing by the door." And 
now as then, "The birds still sing upon the garden tree," though 
she is no longer there to listen to their melody." 

In the same volume from which the above sketch is taken, 
"Biographical History of Litchfield County, Conn., by P. K. Kil- 
bourne," are several more of Mrs. Thurston's Poems, which show 
her unusual talent as a writer, and are worthy of a place in this 
volume, did space permit. 

References to Mrs. Thurston, substantially the same as the 
foregoing, have been published in "The Female Poets of America," 
by Rufus W. Griswold; in "Dictionary of Authors," by Allibone, 
and in "Appleton's Cyclopaedia of American Biography." 

REV. REUBEN GAYLORD. 

For at least a generation, Norfolk was honored in being 
most efBciently represented by one of her sons, a faithful, 
able missionary, and Agent of the American Home Mis- 
sionary Society. A brief sketch of Rev. Reuben Gaylord 
will be given. 

The first of this name in America was William Gaylord, 
a descendant of Huguenot refugees from Normandy in 
France, to England; removed from Devonshire, England, to 



488 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Dorchester, Massachusetts, with his family of four sons and 
one daughter, in 1630. 

The grandson of the above of the fifth generation, 
Timothy Gaylord, married Lydia Thompson of Goshen, and 
settled in Norfolk about 1760, where he died September 9, 
1825, aged ninety years and four months. 

They settled on the old Winchester road, east from Beech 
Flats, and from this family, Gaylord hill received its name. 
Their son, Eeuben, married Mary Curtiss; — one of a family 
known and honored here since the early settlement of the 
town. Her father, Thomas Curtiss, was killed in the Revo- 
lutionary army in 177C. Reuben Gaylord, the father of the 
subject of this sketch, was a man of marked decision of 
character, energetic, kind, benevolent, earnest and consist- 
ent as a Christian citizen. He died September, 1843, aged 
73. The mother, Mary Curtiss Gaylord, was a woman of 
rare worth. She lived to the great age of ninety-three 
years and four days; "fell asleep, December 20, 1867." A 
large number of persons still living remember her. At her 
funeral Rev. Dr. Eldridge said: 

"Mrs. Mary Gaylord was born in this town in 1774, while Con- 
necticut was still a colony of Great Britain. She was endowed with 
a physical constitution of great vigor, and during her long life was 
remarkable for the industry and energy with which she performed 
whatever her hands found to do. Her mind corresponded with her 
physical frame;— strong, active, and enduring. Her affections were 
tender and strong, exhibiting themselves rather in deeds than in 
words. She became a Christian in the great revival of 1799 and 
1800. She united with the church in 1800; consequently was a 
member of it sixty-seven years, and for all that period the pros- 
perity of the church was the great desire of her heart, and the 
subject of daily and unceasing prayer. Especially during the latter 
part of her life she was a great reader of boolis and papers of a 
religious nature. The 'Evangelical Magazine' was a periodical in 
Which stie found great and unfailing delight. The only time she 
was ever late at church, s'he had taken up a volume of that work 
and became so absorbed in it that she did not hear the bell. As 
long as she could get to the weekly prayer-meetings of the church, 
she was there and in season. She began to plan her affairs on 
Monday morning so that s'he might attend the prayer-meeting, and 
when the time came there were no obstacles in the way. Her piety 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 489 

prompted lier to aid, as far as she could, every Christian enter- 
prise by liberal and continuous contributions. I have been assured 
that nine-tenths of what came into her hands the last twenty-five 
years of her life was given to religious and benevolent objects." 

Such were the parents of Rev. Reuben Gaylord, who was 
born April 28, 1812, in the unpretentious farm-house, not 
far from the summit of Gaj'lord hill. As a boy he was 
healthy, active, full of play, quick to learn, and generally 
obedient to his parents. His first teacher was Miss Louisa 
Welch, daughter of Dr. Benjamin Welch, and afterwards 
the wife of Rev. Ira Pettibone. To her care and instruction 
he was committed when but little more than four years old, 
and during her life he remembered her with affectionate 
interest, and felt that he had sustained a personal loss 
when she passed away. 

In the winter of 1827, during a season of religious inter- 
est, he became a decided Christian. His pastor, in view of 
his intellectual abilities, and the love of God implanted in 
his heart, desired that he should devote himself to the 
Christian ministry. His parents had planned otherwise 
for him, but they did not oppose him, and he was fitted for 
College under the tuition of his beloved pastor. Rev. Ralph 
Emerson. He graduated from Yale College in 1834; taught 
school in New Preston the following winter, and com- 
menced his labors as instructor in Illinois College, at Jack- 
sonville, Illinois, in the spring of 1835. He taught here 
for two years; made the journey from Connecticut, and 
returned on horseback; was, as he wrote, just five weeks 
on the way, and from his letters it is apparent that he en- 
joyed the long journey, seeing the broad expanse of coun- 
try, visiting Niagara Falls, and other places of interest. 

In the fall of 1837 he commenced his theological studies 
at the Yale Seminary; June 12, 1838, he was licensed to 
preach by the South Consociation of Litchfield County, and 
at once was invited to supply the pulpit in New Preston, 
which invitation he accepted for a short time. 

On July 4, 1838, he addressed the following to the Secre- 
taries of the American Home Missionary Association: — 



490 HISTORY OF XORFOLK. 

"I now present to your Board my application for a commission 
to labor in tlie work of the gospel ministry in the Territory of Iowa. 
It is my purpose to leave for the "west not far from the 20th of 
next month. The place which I have in view is Mt. Pleasant, the 
county seat of Henry county." 

The following day he wrote to a friend, "I find my mind more 
and more interested in the -west, especially in the enterprise in 
which I have enlisted. Our College Association wish to establish 
upon a firm basis a college for the future state of Iowa, to assist 
in the establishment of academies, and to lend a helping hand to 
the interests of education in the common school department." 

Mr. Gaylord received his commission to preach the gospel 
in Henry County, Iowa; to receive four hundred dollars for 
the year, and forty dollars for travelling expenses. In 
August he was regularly ordained a Congregational minis- 
ter, in Plymouth, Connecticut. He left for the west August 
20th; was four weeks and two days on the way, arrived at 
Round Prairie, Iowa, September 18, and at once com- 
menced his work, and for seventeen years, until 1855, he 
labored in that state, night and day, in summer and in 
winter, overcoming all obstacles and discouragements in 
his one purpose to establish the church of Jesus Christ and 
schools in the new settlements of that far western country. 
He was pastor of a church at Danville, and in addition did a 
vast amount of missionary work in destitute communities, 
and was often sent for to assist disheartened or weakened 
churches, to encourage and strengthen them, and to aid 
pastors in special efforts. 

In the autumn of 1855 Mr. Gaylord made a tour across 
the state of Iowa. Impelled by a desire to see the Missouri 
Valley, and to learn the particulars of the sickness and 
death of his nephew, Myron Gaylord, son of his oldest 
brother, Timothy C. Gaylord, he drove to Council Bluffs, 
and crossed the Missouri river to the Nebraska shore. His 
nephew went out from Norfolk, and built the second house 
in Omaha, in 1854. This house was located near where 
Burt street is now crossed by Twenty-second street. His 
nephew had married, but after a year or so sickened and 
died, and finding his physician, he learned the particulars of 
the sad event. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 491 

Of this, his first visit to the state of Nebraska,, Mr. Gay- 
lord afterward wrote: — 

"I was deeply impressed from wbat I saw, with the feeling that 
Omaha was a point of great importance, and that the Lord had a 
great work there for some one of his servants to do. On arriving 
at home, I laid the matter before my wife, and conferring with 
some of my brethren, they expressed their uniform conviction that 
the point should be occupied at once, and gave reasons why I could 
go, better than any other one of our number." 

After due deliberation Mr, Gaylord felt convinced that 
this was a call for him to go forward and occupy this new 
field, and accordingly a council was soon called to dissolve 
his pastoral relation with his dear church. He afterward 
wrote: — 

"I was dismissed November 7, 1855. The next Sabl>ath preached 
my farewell sermon, and then bent my energies to preparation for 
our journey of three hundred miles across the state of Iowa. After 
the first day we encountered rain and mud, then snow and intense 
cold. It was often difficult to find any place to stay at night. In 
western Iowa were unbridged streams with high, steep, icy banks; 
water running in the channel but frozen at the sides. Twenty miles 
before reaching the Nodaway river we were warned that there was 
no possibility of crossing it, but we kept on, and succeeded with 
great difficulty in driving across without accident. We expected to 
be kept and carried safely through every difficulty, and we were. 
We reached Council Bluffs December 21, riding against a piercing 
northwest wind the last half day. The hotel was full to overflow- 
ing, and Mr. Gaylord walked the streets until eleven o'clock to find 
a lodging place. The private houses were small and crowded with 
their own occupants." 

It would be of interest to follow Mr. Gaylord and his 
family during the months and years of his labors, self- 
sacrifice, and hardships, as during the remaining twenty- 
five years of his life his one purpose was, "to lay the founda- 
tions of the Christian religion deep, broad and strong in 
that new and undeveloped portion of our country, with 
Jesus Christ Himself as the chief corner-stone;" — but we 
can only mention in a brief way here and there an interest- 
ing fact. May 4, 1856, Mr Gaylord organized the first Con- 
gregational Church in Omaha, with nine members, "this 



492 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

being the first fruits of the home missionary enterprise in 
Nebraska." Soon after, at a place called Fontanelle, begun 
in the autumn of 1854 by a colony from Quincy, Illinois, he 
organized a church with twenty-three members. 

Near the close of Mr. Gaylord's first year in Nebraska, 
1856, he wote: — 

"We hare been able to erect our house of worship, 27 by 36 feet, 
of brick, substantially built, in good style, with a basement room 
19 by 24 feet, pleasant and inviting. We expect to finish the house 
as early as we can get materials; I believe we shall see it completed, 
paid for, and dedicated by the first of June next. It has cost your 
missionary much labor and anxiety to raise the funds, make the 
contracts and attend to the general superintendence of the building." 

This Mr. Gaylord wrote to the Home Missionary Society, 
who sent him a commission to labor in the territory of 
Nebraska, guaranteeing him |600, for his support for one 
year, which he said was not one half of what it actually cost 
to maintain his family. Of the expense of living in Omaha 
at that time he wrote : — 

"I have now secured a more comfortable dwelling. It has two 
rooms; one of good size, the other small;— no cellar, well, or other 
conveniences. For this we pay $21 a month. Flour is $8.50 a hun- 
dred pounds. We deny ourselves the luxury of butter. Sugar is 
12 1-2 cents a pound, and other groceries in proportion." 

When Mr. Gaylord arrived in Omaha he commenced 
preaching in the Council Chamber of the Old State House. 
There was no church organization there, except a Methodist 
class of six members. 

Of his work Mr. Gaylord wrote: — 
"Seeing the land all unoccupied, I continued to act the part of a 
bisihop for the territory of my adoption, and at the same time cared 
for the church at Omaha until November, 1864." 

He visited, by special request, places near and far, and 
organized churches, continuing in this work without rest 
for many years. 

The spring of 1864 found Mr. Gaylord with health seri- 
ously impaired by excessive labor. He afterward wrote : — 
"In 1864 I found myself so worn down with the labor of all 
these years, pursued without cessation, that my church voted me a 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 493 

vacation of four months for rest and travel. May 23 Mrs. Gaylord 
and myself left Omaha for the east, stopping in Illinois among old 

friends in pioneer home missionary work It was a rare 

privilege we enjoyed, listening to such men as Dr. Storrs, Dr. Bud- 
ington, Rev. Henry Ward Beeeher, Dr. Thompson of New York, and 
others. . . . But the most precious and tender of all was my visit 
to Norfolk, my birth-place, the 'home of my mother, who still lives 
to pray and labor, at the advanced age of ninety. We wept, and re- 
joiced, and prayed together. With memory perfect, and faculties 
unimpaired, she waits joyfully the coming of her Savior to take her 

to Himself I was sent back in the autumn to act in the 

capacity of agent of the American Home Missionary Society for 
Nebraska, and two tiers of counties in Western Iowa." 

He resigned his charge as pastor of the first Congrega- 
tional Church in Omaha, and for the remainder of his life 
labored without ceasing throughout the great territory of 
Nebraska, in establishing churches and Sunday Schools. 

One of the things which he did was to name a town "Nor- 
folk" in a promising locality in Madison County, Nebraska, 
in grateful remembrance of his native town. Norfolk has 
grown to be a prominent city in that great western state. 

Mr. Gaylord, early in January, 1880, was prostrated by a 
stroke of paralysis, which he survived but a few hours, 
when his freed spirit passed on to its heavenly home, and he 
rested from his labors, at the age of 68 years. 

Another very important work in which during his entire 
life in the west Mr. Gaylord was exceeding active and 
efiScient was the founding of schools and colleges. 

During the early years of his labors in Iowa, the Congre- 
gationalists, among whom he was the leading spirit, 
founded a college at Davenport in that state. 

In the early years of his labors in Nebraska he with 
other pioneers laid the foundation of a college at Fon- 
tanelle, in that state, which, years afterward, was re- 
moved to Crete, and became the strong, flourishing Doane 
College. 

In the "Nebraska Congregational News" not long after 
his death it was well said of him: — 

"Rev. Reuben Gaylord was the acknowledged pioneer of both 
educational and religious work in this state. His work sbould be 



494 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

counted the first chapter in the history of Doane College. Its suc- 
cess is but the realizing of the ideas, the carrying out of the plans, 
under another name, which Mr. Gaylord began at Fontanelle. The 
TTork is one; the history is one, and will be one. . . . College men 
point with pleasure to Rev. Reuben Gaylord as the pioneer college 
builder of our order in Nebraska. Breadth of mdnd, scholarly 
ability, and high appreciation of the value of Christian education 
characterized liis utterances. He had an untiring energy, and a de- 
votion that knew no bounds. More heroic or successful service has 
rarely l>een rendered." 

Such, very imperfectly sketched from his "Life and 
Labors," was Rev. Reuben Gaylord, a native of Norfolk. 



XXVIII. 

PHTSIOGRAPHT AND GEOLOGY — THE FLORA OP NORFOLK. 

The geology of Norfolk has been carefully studied by 
members of the United States Geological Survey, in con- 
nection with the preparation of a geological map of west- 
ern New England. 

The part north of the village was examined by Professor 
B. K. Emerson of Amherst College, and the remaining por- 
tion of the township by Professor William H. Hobbs of the 
University of Wisconsin. 

This sketch has been prepared by Professor Hobbs. 

"The township of Norfolk has the shape of a parallelo- 
gram, and includes a little more than forty square miles. 
Its surface is everywhere hilly, but there are no elevations 
which project much above the general level of the hill- 
tops. In the south central part of the town is the dome-like 
Moses or Dennis Hill (1600 ft.), the water-parting from 
which, streams flow north to the Housatonic, south to the 
Naugatuck, and east to the Farmington Rivers. 

The north-south valley of the upper Blackberry River, — 
the Norfolk valley, — is the only considerable depression in 
the township, the land rising to rounded hills having an 



HISTORY OF XORFOLK. 495 

average altitude of 1600 ft. Among these are Bald Mt. 
(1760 ft.), Haystack Mt. (1680 ft.), Button Mt. (1620 ft.), 
Pine Mt. (1560 ft.), and Dennis Hill (1600 ft.) 

The uniformity of elevation of the hill-tops is not acci- 
dental, but indicates that they are the remnants of an 
ancient base level, — a nearly level plain which once stood 
near the sea level, but which has since been elevated about 
1600 ft. to its present position. 

The remarkably even sky line of the view from any high 
point in the neighborhood proclaims this ancient erosion 
plain, which extends throughout southern New England. 
The inclination of this plain by a few degrees to the south- 
southeastward accounts for the southerly course of most of 
the rivers toward the sound. The northward trending 
rectilinear course of the Blackberry river, the continuation 
of its direction in the southward coursing Haystack brook, 
and the abrupt turn of the main stream where the latter 
enters it, point to the existence of one or more faults or 
dislocations of the crust, which by directing their courses 
determined the channels of these streams. 

The erosion plain, of which the hill-tops are the rem- 
nants, was raised and tilted subsequent to the Cretaceous 
age, and hence the present landscapes have been moulded 
since that time. The land sculpture is in part the work of 
water and part that of ice. By cutting deep their chan- 
nels the streams have entrenched themselves in the old 
plain. The ice mantle which during the Glacial period 
covered New England, has planed away projecting rock 
surfaces, deposited its waste in depressed areas, mantling 
and buttressing the hills with drift, and everywhere soften- 
ing the outlines into the Hogarthian line of beauty. 

The direction of the advance of the ice across Norfolk 
was from northwest to southeast. On most ledges w^hich 
have been protected by soil the record of ice invasion may 
be read in the planing, polishing and scoring of the sur- 
face. These scorings range in direction from N. 10 to 50 
degrees west, the greater number being within the limits 
N. 30 degrees W. and N. 40 degrees W. 



496 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

During the northward retreat of the ice from the town- 
ship of Norfolk, its front closed the north end of the 
Blackberry Valley, damming the waters into a lake, and 
forcing them to find a new outlet into the Mad River Valley. 
In this pre-historic Norfolk lake, the ice deposited the 
delta-shaped terrace plain on the west of the present valley, 
at the north end of which are the "Norfolk Downs." The 
surface material of this plain is gravel or "drift," in which 
are a preponderant number of white quartzite boulders 
and pebbles, brought hither by the ice from Alum Hill, 
near Ashley Falls, as is clearly indicated by their charac- 
teristics and by the direction of ice movement. The level 
of the plain is approximately that of the Summit divide, 
as may be seen by its straight upper margin when viewed 
from the milk station at Summit. The kettle holes of its 
upper surface are of striking beauty near the "Norfolk 
Downs." 

The rocks of Norfolk are throughout, crystalline gneisses 
and schists, of Cambrian and pre-Cambrian age, and ex- 
hibit great uniformity in their characteristics. The pre- 
vailing rock is a gray quartzose biotite gneiss, sometimes 
with straight but more frequently with much contorted 
banding. Over considerable areas, particularly west of 
the Norfolk valley, a somewhat similar rock occurs, but 
with abundant glistening scales of white mica, and nodules 
of feldspar and garnet; sometimes also muscovite, quartz, 
and fibrolite. On the weathered surface this rock presents 
a peculiarly knotted or knobby appearance. Associated 
with tbe gray biotitic gneiss are larger or smaller areas of 
hornblende gneiss or amphibolite, frequently abounding 
in minute red garnets, and at other times in magnetite. 
Even the larger areas of this rock are seldom over a half 
mile in length, as on Goodnow Hill, the east wall of Hall 
Meadow Brook, and in Bald and Haystack Mts. The or- 
dinary gray and the hornblende gneiss are often most in- 
tricately intermingled; the latter appearing within the 
former as bands or lenses, particularly near the junction of 
the areas of the two rocks. This is well shown just east 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 497 

of the summit of Goodnow Hill and also at the sharp bend 
in Grant street. 

In the eastern wall of Hall Meadow Brook, a few hun- 
dred feet north of the Prentiss Clark place and quite near 
the Goshen line, a dike of talc serpentine rock with blades 
of actinolite occurs within a little area of the hornblende 
gneiss. This is one of a few localities where this rock has 
been found in Litchfield County. In veins or dikes cutting 
all the other rocks of the township, and hence itself the 
youngest of all, is a coarse granite or pegmatite, composed 
of pink orthoclase feldspar, white plagioclase feldspar, 
black and white micas, and occasionally also black tourma- 
line and magnetite. One of the largest exposures of this 
rock forms the pedestal of the Bridgman Mansion. 

A local segregation of the magnetite occasionally found 
in this rock has in the past encouraged exploitation for 
iron, and pits have been opened on the north flanks of 
Button Mt. and of the hill northwest of Blakely Pond. The 
same mineral is frequently disseminated through both the 
gray and the hornblende gneisses, but the indications are 
that nowhere in the region has the ore been concentrated 
sufficiently to repay mining. 

The belt of Stockbridge dolomite (Cambrosilurian) which 
occupies the East Canaan Valley, though covered with 
drift, approaches but probably does not pass the Norfolk 
line. The only area of limestone discovered in the town- 
ship is that of Crissey Hill, near the Windom place. This 
rock is a coarsely crystalline limestone or dolomite, abound- 
ing in chondrodite and other metamorphic minerals. 

A granitic variety of the gray gneiss, quarried in Bald 
Mt., is the only valuable mineral product of Norfolk ^thus 
far successfully exploited." 

THE FLORA OF NORFOLK. 

(Feom "Tue Cuimes," July 21, 1S97.) 

"Self sown my stately garden grows; 

The winds and wind-blown seed. 
Cold April rain and colder snows 

My hedges plant and feed. 



498 HISTOEY OF NORFOLK. 

"From mountain far and valleys near. 
The harvest sown to-day 
; Thrive in all weathers without fear; 

Wild planters, plant away." 

—Emerson. 

"Among the many attractions of Norfolk, for the lover 
of nature the wild-flowers hold a prominent place. From 
early spring until late fall the botany enthusiast, or "bot- 
any crank," as he is commonly called, is sure to find some- 
thing of interest. About two years ago one of our summer 
visitors reported one hundred and ninety-seven wild- 
flowers that she had seen during her stay of four weeks. 
Long before the snow has left the hills, on a sunny south 
bank may be seen the bright yellow blossom of the Colts- 
foot and the modest little Hepatica. Later, nestling among 
the dry leaves, we find the large pink clusters of the 
Arbutus. On the hillside the fragrant Daphne, with its 
lilac colored blossoms covering the bare stems, is seen. 

Now a large variety of flowers come crowding in so 
quickly one finds it difficult to keep in touch with all. 
Among them are Dutchman's breeches, or white-hearts, 
wild ginger root, blood root, violets, trilliums, bellwort 
and many others. About the last of May are to be found 
many dainty pink lady-slippers, and the greenish-yellow 
blossoms of the clintonia, and in some half-hidden nooks 
the Orchis spectabilis raises its delicate head. If you have 
a deal of patience and know in what direction to go, you 
may be rewarded by finding a few of the smaller yellow 
lady-slippers. 

During the month of June the pastures and woods are 
gay with the pink azalea and laurel, and in the meadows 
the daisies and buttercups are opening their "golden eyes." 
One of the delights of the botanist's life is the Sphagnum- 
bog. Someone has said that the swamp is nature's sanc- 
tuary. "Truly, such a remote spot as this, so full of rare 
beauties, free from any suggestion of man, seems almost 
like a holy of holies, and we feel as if we had been some- 
what intrusive in our reckless search after loveliness." 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 499 

You must go well equipped with rubber boots and open 
eyes, for many are the pitfalls that await you. But who 
would not .endure all the unpleasantness for the sake of the 
reward? If you go the last of June, many will be the ex- 
clamations of delight as you behold the beauties of the 
place. On all sides are different members of the coniferae 
family, some of them draped with long grey moss. A faint, 
fragrant odor comes to us as we look down and see blos- 
soms of the ledum latifolium, and note the leaves clothed 
with rusty wool underneath. Nearby is the marsh andro- 
meda, with its umbel of pale pink flowers. All around 
the roots of these we find the small flowers of the American 
cranberry. At a little distance we see the wild calla beside 
some treacherous pool. Here I would like to correct a 
statement made in one of our Connecticut papers, that the 
wild calla was found in only one place in Connecticut. I 
fear the writer never botanized in any other, for it grows 
in five different swamps in Norfolk. But to go back in our 
bog. Near the calla are the pure white blossoms of the 
fairy wand orchid. Here, too, are the beautiful rose purple 
flowers of the arethusa, and if it is not too late, a few of the 
funnel-shaped, white beard flowers of the buckbean and 
the pale pink blossoms of the kalmia glauca. 

Near at hand we excitedly espy the "brimming beakers" 
of the pitcher plant, — winged, hooded leaves, relentlessly 
holding captive a host of unfortunate insects, which have 
been tempted into their hollows by the sugary exudations 
for which they have bartered their lives, for the downward 
and pointing bristles will prevent their escape. The plant 
is said to be nourished by the decomposing bodies of these 
captives, and we fancy that the great purple-red flowers 
which nod from theii' tall stalks have drawn their hue and 
vigor from the blood of a hundred victims. These are only 
a few of the wonders of the bog, but the more common ones 
we need not mention. 

On the edge of at least one of the Norfolk swamps the 
American rhododendron is found. 

Later in the season, among the dry woods, we find the 



500 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Indian pipes and pinesap parasites, which sponge their 
board out of other plants. Haystack mountain furnishes 
a fine botanical garden. The bright yellow foxglove, the 
Venus's looking glass, the pink and white blossom of 
princess pine, the fragrant pyrola, orchids, not to mention 
the numerous varieties of Lycopods, help to make the climb 
up Haystack interesting. At least twenty-two different 
orchids have been found in Norfolk, — among them 
Spiranthes Romanzoviana, which is especially mentioned 
in Gray's Botany as growing in Norfolk, Professor Barbour 
as authority. 

Many of the Compositae family also find their home in 
this section. 

These are among the best known, most interesting and 
most characteristic of the wild flowers of Norfolk. But 
one has only to take a stroll through any quiet nook to see 
that these are a very few of the many flowers that deck our 
hills." 

By two of the local botanists of note who have made a 
thorough study of the flora of Norfolk, and have found all 
of the orchids growing in this town, the following ex- 
tended catalogue of the "Orchids of Norfolk" has been 
kindly prepared: 

Liparis liliifolia, Richard. 
Liparis Loeselii, Richard. 
Corallorhiza odontorhiza, Nutt. 
Corallorhiza multiflora, Nutt. 
Spiranthes Romanzoffiana, Cham. 
Spiranthes cernua, Richard. 
Spiranthes praecox, Watson. 
Spiranthes gracilis, Bigelow. 
Spiranthes simplex, Gray. 
Goodyera repens, R. Br. 
Goodyera pubescens, R. Br. 
Arethusa bulbosa, L. 
Calopogon pulchellus, R. Br. 
Pogonia ophioglossoides, Nutt. 
Orchis spectabilis, L. 
Habenaria tridentata, Hook. 
" virescens, Spreng. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 501 

Habenaria hyperborea, R. Br. 
" dilatata. Gray. 

" Hookeri, Torr. 

" orbiculata, Torr. 

" blephariglottis, Torr. 

'* lacera, R. Br. 

" psycodes, Gray. 

" fimbriata, R. Br. 

Cypripedium parviflorum, Salisb. 

" pubescens, Willd. 

" spectabile, Salisb. 

" acaule, Ait. 

In the year 1881, Dr. J. H. Barbour of Middletown, in 
this state, came to Norfolk, built and for many years occu- 
pied as his summer home "Ofora Lodge," near The Hill- 
hurst. Having taken up botany as a recreation, he found 
in this, his summer home, a most delightful field for his 
pastime and study. 

Professor Barbour presented to the Norfolk Library a 
copy of "Gray's Botany," in which he had placed in manu- 
script, as part of the result of his study of the flora of Nor- 
folk, the following list of plants and flowers, which we 
are kindly permitted to insert in this volume: 

"Plants found in Norfolk which are not common in other parts 
of Connecticut: 

"Anemone cylindrica, Gray. (Long fruited anemone.) 

Nuphar Kalmianum, Ait. (Small yellow pond lily.) 

Arabis Canadensis, L. (Sickle-pod.) 

Viola rotundifolia, Michx. (Round leaved Violet.) 

Sagina proeumbens, L. (Pearlwort.) 

Oxalis Acetosella, L. (Common wood-sorrel.) 

Nemopanthes fascicularis, Ref. (Mountain Holly.) 

Acer Spicatum, Lam. (Mountain Maple.) 

Desmodium cuspidatum, Hook. (Tick trefoil.) 

Vicia Cracca, L. (sp. of Vetch.) 

Geum strictum, Ait. (Avens.) 

Potentilla tridentata, Soland. (Three-toothed cinquefoil.) 

Rosa Blanda, Ait. (Early wild rose.) 

Tiarella cordifolia, L. (False Mitrewort.) 

Ribes prostratum, L. Her. (Fetid currant.) 

Circaea Alpina, L. (Enchanter's Nightshade.) 

Sium Carsonii, Durand. (V^'ater Parsnip.) 



502 HISTORY OF NOEFOLK. 

Aralia hispida, Vent. (Bristly Sarsaparilla.) 

Cornus circinata, L. Her. (Round leaved cornel or Dogwood.) 

Viburnum cassinoides, L. (Withered.) 

Viburnum Opulus, L. (Cranberry-tree.) 

Lonicera ciliata, Muhl. (Fly Honeysuckle.) 

Aster macrophyllus, L. (Large leaved aster.) 

Hieraciiim aurantiacum, L. (Orange Hawkweed.) 

Tragopogon pratensis, L. (Salsify) (Goat's beard.) 

Lobelia Kalmii, L. (Kalm's Lobelia.) 

Chiogenes Serpyllifolia, Salisb. (Creeping Snowberry.) 

Andromeda polifolia, L. (Andromeda sp.) 

Kalmia glauca, Ait. (Pale Laurel.) 

Rhododendron maximum. (Great Laurel.) 

Ledum latifolium, Ait. (Labrador tea.) 

Moneses grandiflora, Salisb. (One flowered pyrola.) 

Gentiana quinqueflora, Lam. (Five flowered gentian.) 

Cynoglossum Virginicum, L. (Hound's tongue.) 

Mimulus luteus, L. (Yellow Monkey flower.) 

Myrica Gale, L. (Sweet gale.) 

Betula lutea, Michx. f. (Yellow birch.) 

Liparis Loeselii, Richard. (Twayblade.) 

Spiranthes Romanzoffiana, Cham. (Sp. of Ladies' Tresses.; 

Goodyera repens, R. Br. (Rattlesnake plantain.) 

Habenaria hyperborea, R. Br. (Sp. of Rein-orchis.) 

Habenaria orbiculata, Torr. (Great green orchis.) 

Streptopus roseus, Michx. (Twisted stalk.) 

Trillium erythocarpum Michx. (Painted Trillnun.) 

Scheuchzeria palustris, L. 

Lycopodium annotinum, L. 

Lycopodium inundatum, L. 

Botrychium lanceolatum, Angstrom. 

Asplenium thelypteroides, Michx. 

Phegopteris polypodioides, Fee. 

Phegopteris Dryopteris, Fee. 

Aspidium Bootii, Tuckermann. 

Woodsia Ilvensis, R. Brown. 

The following are some of the ferns that Professor Bar- 
bour designated as found growing in Norfolk: 
Polypodium, vulgare, L. (Polypody.) 
Adiantum, pedatum, L. (Maiden-hair.) 
Pteris aquilina, L. (Common Brake.) 
Asplenium ebeneum. (Spleen wort.) 

" Filix-foemina, Bernh. 

Phegopteris polypodioides, Fee. (Beech Fern.) 





'^' CHARLES M, RYAN ' '•''•" 



fT 



Jk iMTJIl 



;7-.y MERRILL HUMP.MREY ' 



/a 




f. JL T . M.V/OOSTER ^ ./ 



LIAM C. PHELPS, BORN SEPTEMBER, 1807. THIS PICTURE OF HIM TAKEN AUGUST 1900. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 503 

Phegopteris liexagonoptera, Fee. 

" Dryopteris, Fee. 

Aspidium Thelypteris, Swartz. (Shield Fern.) 
" Noveboracense, Swartz. 

" spinulosum, Swartz. 

" intermedium, D. C. Eaton. 

" Boottii, Tuckerman. 

" cristatum, Swartz. 

" marginale, Swartz. 

" acrostichoides, Swartz. (Cliristmas Fern.) 

Cystopteris, fragilis, Bernh. (Bladder Ferns.) 
Onoclea sensibilis. (Sensitive Fern.) 
Onoclea Struthiopteris, Hoffman. 
Woodsia Ilvensis, R. Brown. 

" obtusa, Torr. 
Dicksonia pilosiuseula, Willd. 
Osmunda regalis, L. (Flowering Fern.) 
" Claytoniana, L. 

" ciunamomea, L. (Cinnamon Fern.) 
Botryehium lanceolatum, Augs. (Adder's-tongue Family.) 
" matricariaefolium, Braun. 

" ternatum, Swartz. 

" Virginianum, Swartz. 

Ophioglossum vulgatum, L. (Adder's-tongue.) 



XXIX. 

BRIEF SKETCHES OF EARLY SETTLERS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS. 

The following chapter, being for the most part a brief 
mention of the early settlers of this town and their de- 
scendants, has been gathered from a great variety of 
sources. That it is free from errors the compiler would by 
no means dare hope. 

Of the sources of my information I would mention many 
valuable manuscripts left by Dr. Eldridge, to which access 
has been kindly given. Of the manuscripts I would specify 
some papers prepared at the request of Dr. Eldridge by 
Michael F. Mills, Esq., in 1857, a short time prior to his 
death. He was one of the last surviving sons of an 'orig- 



504 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

inal proprietor.' Also some papers prepared for Dr. El- 
dridge by James Mars, who in 1798, at the age of 8 years, 
was sold as a slave here in Norfolk by Rev. Mr. Thompson 
of Canaan to Mr. Elizur Miinger, and who lived in this 
town much the larger part of his life. I must mention also 
here Mr. Norman Riggs, Mr. Lucius Pendleton, and Mr. 
Benjamin W. Pettibone. Accompanying Esq. Mills' papers 
is the following note, which will be of interest: 

"May 18, 1857." 
"Rev. J. Eldridge, D. D.: 

Dear Sir:— You gave an invitation for people to hand in to you 
memoranda respecting the early settlers of the town. You will 
probably be flooded with them, — yet as I have time, and it seems to 
remove gloomy feelings, I have made some, and herewith send. If 
you can glean anything from them it would be a gratification to 
me; if not, they will be waste paper. I have written considerable 
more, which I shall look over. If I think it may be of use to you 
I shall hand it to you. My age and want of education is my ex- 
cuse for bad spelling and bad grammar." 

With respect yours, 

MICHAEL F. MILLS." 

FROM ESQ. MILLS' PAPERS. 

"Ezekiel Wilcox came from Simsbury. He located a mile east 
of the meeting-house. He married Rosanna Pettibone, sister of 
Col. Giles Pettibone. He, the said Ezekiel, died June 23, 1774. of 
the smallpox. Their children: Charlotte married Noah Amherst 
Phelps of Simsbury, son of General Noah Phelps. Rosanna mar- 
ried Eden Mills. Ezekiel married Olive Welch. The said Ezekiel, 
Sen., was selectman. The smallpox had commenced the natural 
way. One or two had it at the house of Abner Beach, about 
twenty-five rods south of the meeting-house. Mr. Wilcox came as 
far as the front of the meeting-house. Some one came out of 
Beach's house that had the smallpox -and talked with Wilcox, as 
his business was to provide a place to remove them to, where the 
public would not be so much exposed. He there took the dis- 
temper. Mrs. Wilcox continued to reside upon the same location 
and kept a tavern until her death, October 1.5, 1813, aged 75. Mrs. 
Wilcox before her marriage, then Rosanna Pettibone, resided in 
Simsbury. She wished a wedden dress. She made a piece of 
checked linen,— about 40 or 50 yards,— for sale. Samuel Forbes 
having commenced and carrying on the iron business in Canaan, 
and employing a number of men, paid a high price for checked 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 505 

linen. Rosanna Pettibone took her checked linen on horseback, 
and in company with Benjamin Mills and his wife came through 
Torrington and Winchester to Samuel Mills', in the south part of 
Norfolk. The nest day to her brother's, Giles Pettibone's, who ac- 
companied her to Mr. Forbes'. She sold her cloth. Mr. Forbes 
paid her in iron delivered in Hartford. She exchanged her iron 
for a wedden dress." 

Probably at an earlier date than the trip mentioned 
above, when in pursuit of her wedding dress, Rosanna Pet- 
tibone started alone on horseback from her home in Sims- 
bury for Norfolk. The roads then were little more than a 
trail or bridle-path through a wilderness of "forest prime- 
val." Somewhere in New Hartford she lost the trail, in- 
tending to come through Winchester township, over Wal- 
len's Hill, through Colebrook to Norfolk. She was lost in 
the wilderness, but kept on, and when night overtook her 
stopped, alone in the forest, and spent the night, as it 
proved, near the location of the old Torringford Church, 
having got upon the trail leading to Torrington. The next 
day she made her way to her brother, Giles Pettibone's, in 
this town. That was doubtless a long, dreary night to 
Rosanna. 

"William Walter came from Goshen. He located on the road 
north of Haystack mountain. He with Giles Pettibone were the 
first representatives. He was an eminent, pious Christian, yet in 
some of the last years of his life he was gloomy. Frequently 
when riding a-horseback in some lonely place where he had no 
reason to think any person heard him, he would offer a most 
humble and fervent prayer. He had two wives. He died in 1796. 
His children: William located south of Loon meadow. Joel on 
the road from Beech flats to Loon meadow, north of the pond. 
Stephen married Mercy Mills for his second wife; located on the 
same road, east of Joel. He afterward removed to his father's, 
north of Haystack mountain. He died 1800. Elijah located on the 
road east of Stephen Walters. Hannah married John Walter; lo- 
cated in the east part of the town. Heman, after Joel died, located 
on the same farm. 

Asahel, Samuel. 18.57. None of the family or descendants re- 
main in Norfolk. William Waltei', Jun., was a mason by trade. 
He was building a chimney of stone. Some people looking on and 
examining it said to him. You leave great holes. Walter replied. 



506 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

It is impossible to build a stone chimney so tight but what the rats 
will run in, and it is policy to leave holes large enough for the cats 
to follow them. 

"Deacon David Frisbie married a daughter of Esquire Everett 
of New Milford. He came from New Milford to Norfolk; located 
in Loon meadow district, two miles east of the meeting-house. He 
was a carpenter, a house and shop joiner by trade. He was from 
a family which had been favored with education and instruction 
beyond most families of that day. Two of his brothers received 
a college education. One was a minister of the gospel; the other 
a lawyer, and settled in Virginia. Mr. Frisbie early embraced the 
prinicples of religion. He was a firm believer in the doctrines and 
principles advanced by Di-. Bellamy and Doctor Edwards. He was 
attached to reading, especially the Bible and the writings of 
Doctor Edwards. Few laymen in those days were as well versed 
iu theology as he was. He believed firmly in the decrees of God. 
He took great delight in discussing the subject of religion, the 
attributes of Deity and the free agency of man. He took an active 
part in religious meetings, and was ever ready to devote time to 
religious conversation. He was chosen deacon of the church and 
served a number of years, sustaining an eminent Christian charac- 
ter. He removed late in life from Norfolk to Winsted to live with 
AVillard Holmes, who married his daughter. His wife's father and 
mother residing in New Milford, used frequently to visit Mr. Fris- 
bie, Esq. Everett and his wife being small of stature, rode on horse- 
back from New Milford to Norfolk upon one horse. Mr. Frisbie's 
children; Olive, died. Polly, married a Lewis. Irene, married Earl 
P. Hawley. John Calvin married Laura Mills, daughter of Law- 
rence Mills. 

David married Mercy Walter, daughter of Stephen Walter. 
Martin Luther died in Virginia. 

John Calvin Frisbie now (1857) resides in the town of Scott, 
N. Y. Miranda married Willard Holmes of Winsted, and at his 
house in 1837, Deacon David Frisbie died, at the age of 87 years. 

"Jedediah Richard's family came from Hartford. Jedediah 
Jun. came, being one of the purchasers under the first contract 
with the state, which was given up. He located in the east part of 
the town near Colebrook, on the farm now owned by William Nor- 
ton. Soon after the second purchase his father, Jedediah Sen., 
and a brother came and settled near him. The son Jedediah mar- 
ried a Stewart. They had nine sons, who lived to be men grown. 
In 1824 he went with his wife and his nine sons, all remarkable for 
health and strength to Wadsworth, in the state of Ohio. In the 
summer of 1855 there were but two of the family living. Roswell, 
son of Jedediah Richards 2nd, married Betsey Austin. Had five 
sons. One son, Salmon (1857) living in Norfolk. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 507 

The Rev. A. R. Robbins made a visit to Mr. Jedediah Richards 
2d. The men were in the field harvesting. Mr. Robbins wallied to 
the field. Jedediah Richards 1st, Jedediah Richards 2d and Jede- 
diah Richards od were a reaping. Jedediah Richards 4th, a boy 
of about ten years old, was there at work. Mr. Robbins enquired if 
the boy could reap. They replied he could. Mr. Robbins said get 
him a sickle, which they did. Mr. Robbins stood for some time to 
see them reap, and said, "Few have seen what I have; four gener- 
ations, all of the same name, reaping together in the same field." 
(This was doubtless on the farm owned and occupied many years 
by William J. Norton.) "Jedediah Richards 2nd died 1811. Jede- 
diah 3d used frequently to remark that he had taken the 'Hartford 
Courant' for a great many years, and that he made it a point every 
week to read it through by course; that he could confidently say 
that nothing had been published in the Courant for years that he 
had not read. 

Charles Pardee lived west of Jedediah Richards. 

Reuben Munger located about half a mile west of the meeting- 
house. His sons Jonathan and Edmond were among the first 
settlers of the south part of Ohio. Reuben, Nathaniel and Dudley 
were early settlers of Middlebury, Vermont. Elizer remained upon 
the old homestead. Died 1828, aged 67. One of Mr. Mmiger's 
daughters, Abigail, married Benjamin Maltbie. One of her sons, 
Elon, resides in Norfolk. 

"Asahel Case and his wife, Dorotha Phelps, were from Sims- 
bui-y. He located on the Winchester road, four miles south of the 
center. His children; Joseph, married Lydia Mills. They removed 
vcith the first settlers to Northern Ohio. Abel. Nathan married a 
Munger. They were early settlers of Middlebury, Vt. Aashel Jun., 
married Eunice Everet: — lived in the south end district in Norfolk. 
Children: Mary married James Swift. Asahel Everet Case, married 
Huldah Curtis. Dorotha married Philo Smith. Salmon, married 
a Peerson. The said Asahel senior had thirteen children. He died 
1809, aged 81. Asahel Jun. died 1840, aged 84. 

"Aaron Case, son of Asahel Jun., lived on the old place where 
his grandfather lived and died. His son, Hiram lived on the old 
place, and died there from 'grinder's consumption,' contracted by 
grinding scythes in a scythe shop. Another son Dea. Aaron, was 
for years a business man in Winsted (and died there early in 1900). 

Rachel married a Markham. Flora married the same Mr. Mark- 
ham as his second wife. Mary married an Alvord. Fanny married 
Dea. Asahel G. Phelps. Cynthia married a Stillman. 

"The Pease family that came to Norfolk were descendants of 
John Pease from Yorkshire England, who landed at Martha's Vine- 
yard 1632. A pamphlet of the Pease family was published by Fred- 



508 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

erick S. Pease of Albany. Nathaniel Pease married Eunice Allen. 
He died at Norfolk March 28, 1818, aged 93. His wife died March 
21, 1807. He afterward married Mrs. Pickett. He removed from 
Enfield to Goshen, and about 1765 to Norfolk. Mr. Pease located 
on the old road to Canaan, about a hundred rods east of the 
Canaan line. He was a tanner, currier, and leather dresser by- 
trade. He carried on boot and shoe-making extensively for those 
days, frequently employing ten or twelve men. He came into fhe 
shop one time, looked rather sharply, said to his workmen, some of 
you use too much wax on your thread. My customers complain. 
One of the workmen replied, it is not I. I sew clear around the 
shoe without waxing. Mr. Pease replied, you are the man. If any 
more of your shoes rip I will turn you up. Mr. Pease had thirteen 
children. 

1 Phineas, married Betsey Lawrence; children. Flavins, 
Phineas, Peter, Hiram, Alonzo, Sally, Pela, Polly, Betsey, Amelia, 
Amanda. 

2 Calvin, married Sally Ives; children, Salmon, Pruden. Sally. 

3 Louisa, married Giles Pettibone, son of Col. Giles Pettibone; 
children, Sally, Polly, Louisa, Julia, Eunice, Jonathan Humphrey, 
Susan, Charlotte L., Desiah Humphrey. 

4 Allen, married first, Rachel Tibbals; children, Harlow, Electa; 
married second, Tamsin Sears; children, John S., Eunice. 

5 Nathaniel, married Jerusha Hall; children, Dudley, Grove, 
Almira, Betsey. 

6 Obadiah, married Deziah Pettibone, dau. of Col. Giles Petti- 
bone; children, xlugustus P., Obadiah, Deziah, Harriet, Emily. 

7 Dudley, died young. 

8 Eunice married Edmond Akins; children, Harry, Betsey. 

9 Electa married Ahijah Pettibone; children, Ahijah, Maria, 
Martha, Sally, Augustus P., Hiram. 

10 Betsey married Ozias Pettibone of Granby; had five sons. 

11 Flavins died young. 

12 Earl P., married Mary Ives, daughter of Joseph Ives; chil- 
dren, Joseph Ives, Richard Henry, Roger Sherman, Mary Eliza. 

13 Martha, died at three years of age of hyprophobia, having 
been bitten by a cat. 

"Soon after Mr. Nathaniel Pease came to Norfolk he and a 
neighbor went to Sandisfield on foot on business. In the afternoon 
they started for home through the woods. It was cloudy and they 
had not proceeded far when a dense fog came on; they could not 
tell the points of compass and soon they were lost. They found 
a large tree turned up by the roots, the body lying several feet 
from the ground. By breaking limbs etc. they made a shelter 
where they passed the night, and when the sun came out the next 
day they were able to make their way home. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 509 

"Capt. Titus Ives located on the road to Canaan near the town 
line. He died in 1810. His children were: Joseph, Sherman, 
Hannah, who married Samuel Tibbals. Sally, married Calvin 
Pease, Howell, George, John and Erastus. All had families. They 
and their descendants have all left Norfolk." (Capt. Titus Ives 
lived in the house that is now the residence of Nathaniel S. Law- 
rence, adjoining the former Holt, now the Eldridge farm. The 
original road to Canaan passed this house.) 

"Jedediah Turner, John Turner and Samuel Turner, all settled 
in the west part of the town. Their descendants were numerous; 
among them was Rev. Nathaniel Turner, late of New Marlboro, 
and Bates Turnei', Esq., Attorney and Judge of Superior Court of 
Vermont. They are all gone from here. (1857.) 

.lesse Tobey located on the south side of great Bald mountain. 
He had a numerous family. All left here. 

George Tobey located west of Bald mountain. He had a numer- 
ous family; some of their descendants reside in Canaan. 

'The Lawrence family, came from England, and located in the 
region of Boston. 

Samuel Lawrence married Patience Bigelow, January 24, 1734. 
He settled in Killingly; removed to Simsbury in 1750. He lived 
some years in Norfolli; with Capt. Michael Mills, who married his 
daughter. He returned to Simsbury and died there Aijril 10, 1793, 
aged 82. 

Their children that located and settled in Norfolli; John, located 
in Loon meadow-district; his children; 

Betsey, married Jonathan Munger. 

Charlotte, married Roswell Pettibone, and afterward mar. Ira 
Mills. 

Sophia, married Donna Andress. 

Ann, married Ralph Mills. John, mar. Phelps. 

Roxy, married Zenus Mills. Samuel. 

Other children of Samuel and Patience Bigelow Lawrence. 

Mercy, married Michael Mills. 

Susan, married Uriah Case. 

Bigelow, maiTied Asenath Curtis. 

Patience, married Jacob Barber. 

Sarah, married David Barber. 

Zeruah, married Edward Case. 

James, married Lois Fuller. 

Samuel and Luther. 

"Ariel, married Lucy Wilcox; located on Loon meadow road 
near Colebrook; their children: 

Elijah, mari'ied Roxa Beach. 

Ariel Jun., married Lucretia Brown. 



510 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Grove, married Elizabeth Robbing. 

Lucy, married Medad Curtiss. 

Susan, married Augustus Pettibone. 

Ezekiel. 

Luther Lawrence settled on Loon meadow road. 

David Barber, who married Sarah Lawrence, located on Loon 
meadow road; their children: 

Humphrey, Tryphena, Daniel, Timothy. 

Levi, removed to Ohio, and has since been a member of Con- 
gress." 

"E. Grove Lawrence, born July 12th, 1806, in Vernon, Oneida 
County, N. Y., was son of Grove Lawrence, and grandson of Ariel 
Lawrence, residents of Norfolli. After the death of his father, he 
was adopted, at the age of four years, by Augustus Pettibone, 
whose wife was his father's sister, and for eighty-four years he 
lived in Norfolk, dying there August 30th, 1894. Graduating from 
Union College in 1827, the same year he married Jerusha Pettibone 
Stevens, daughter of Nathaniel Stevens, and in 1828 began life as 
a farmer on the Titus Ives farm, in the western part of Norfolk, 
and was still owner of that farm at his death. In 1831 he removed 
to Norfolk Centre, and engaged in merchandise, in company with 
Elizur Dowd, in the store built by E. H. Dennison, where the build- 
ing of Grove Yale stands. Two or three years later he in company 
with James C. Swift, built the building near the stone arch bridge, 
over the Creek stream on the North Main street road, and was en- 
gaged in trade there until the property was sold to J. & E. E. Ryan 
Co., about 1836. Lawrence & Swift then built the store now occu- 
pied by M. N. Clark, and traded there until the firm of Lawrence 
iS: Swift dissolved, about 1840. He afterward owned and occupied 
the Dennison store, until about 1852, in his own name, and in com- 
pany with Nathaniel B. Stevens, as Lawrence & Stevens. He 
operated and owned the grist mill on Buttermilk Falls for many 
years, where wheat, rye and buckwheat flour and millstufCs were 
manufactured in quantity, and marketed in all the surrounding 
towns. He was interested with James C. Swift for a time in oper- 
ating the woolen factory, afterward operated by J. tt E. E. Ryan 
& Co. He built the iron works a short distance east from the old 
toll gate in 1846, and it was successfully operated for many years. 

By his aid the hoe shop, now operated as part of the ^Etna 
Silk Company's plant, was built by N. B. Stevens and Augustus 
P. Lawrence, under the firm name of N. B. Stevens & Co. This 
was operated for many years by N. B. Stevens, until merged into 
the Empire Company, which operated it in connection with the 
Axle Shop. 

He was a large stockholder and promoter of the Lawrence 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 511 

Machine Co., which built and operated the plant now known as the 
"Axle Shop" in West Norfolk, which was erected for the manufac- 
ture of fine wagon axles and wagon springs. He was a stockholder 
and interested in the disastrous enterprise known as the Norfolk 
Leather Co., which operated a tannery on the south bank of the 
Blackberry river in West Norfolk, below the Dewell scythe works. 

He was one of the original stockholders in the Winsted Manu- 
facturing Co., one of the most successful of Win.sted's manufac- 
turing enterprises, and was interested in other manufacturing en- 
terprises in Winsted and in Canaan. 

He was largely interested in agriculture; owned and operated 
several farms in Norfolk, and in adjoining towns; dealt extensively 
in real estate, and erected many buildings in various parts of the 
town. He held various offices of trust and responsibilty; was post- 
master for several years; repi-esentative in the Legislature;— twice 
Senator from the 17th Senatorial District, Delegate to the Whig 
National Convention in 1852. He was actively interested in the or- 
ganization of the Connecticut Western Railroad Company, and 
was a director of that company." 

To Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence were born ten children; four sons 
and six daughters. The eldest son, Augustus P., died many years 
since, on the Pacific coast. Grove, a graduate of Yale, was an 
active, prominent business man of Pana, Illinois, for a long period 
of years, and died there in 1897. Hiram P., a lawyer, was for many 
years in the active practice of his profession in Winsted, where he 
now resides. Nathaniel S., is a farmer, 'on the Titus Ives farm, in 
the western part of Norfolk,' where his parents began life in 1828. 
Of the daughters, the youngest died in infancy. Jerusha P., 
(Tootie,) a noble, beautiful young lady, universally beloved and 
esteemed, died August 18G1, at the age of nineteen years. Susan 
P., married Charles W. Sibley; lived in Pana, Illinois, and died in 
1898. Elizabeth H., married Professor John L. Mills, a native of 
this town, son of Hiram Mills, a graduate of and tutor in Yale 
College, and for many years a Professor in Marietta College, Ohio, 
where they now reside. Miss Augusta P. Lawrence retains the 
fine old family homestead in this village. Nancy, (Nannie) married 
Matthew J. Ryan, son of John Ryan, a resident of this town for 
many years. They reside in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Joshua Whitney came to Norfolk from Canaan, as one of the 
very first settlers of the town. He was a lawyer and practiced in 
the courts of the then new County of Litchfield. He was one of the 
original proprietors of the town, was chosen Proprietor's Clerk at 
their meeting in December, 1755, and held that position for several 
years. He built his house near if not on the very site where some 
years later Josiah Pettibone built a large house in which Major 



512 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

James Shepard kept a hotel for many years, and where Samuel 
Canfield has lived for more than a quarter of a century. The first 
town meeting was held in Josiah Whitney's house, December 12, 
1758. and Mr. Whitney was chosen the first Town Clerli, which 
position he held for a number of years, as is shown by the town 
records, which are in his handwriting. He seems to have been a 
prominent man in the community, as his name is found as one of 
almost every important committee for a number of years. 

Mr. Whitney sold this house and lot to Mr. Jonathan Pettibone 
of Simsbury, who afterward sold it to his son, Giles Pettibone, 
who was one of the most prominent of the early settlei-s here. 

Mr. Whitney became financialy embarrassed, sold out and left 
town probably as soon as 17G3. 

Sketches of the old Inhabitants, in part, as prepared for Dr. 
Eldridge by James Mars, in 18J57. 

"Mr. Joseph Jones lived in the house now owned by Mrs. 
Julia Pettibone, on the east side of what is called the park. He 
married Abigail Seward, September 3, 1771. He was a tailor by 
trade, and had a family of eight children,— three sons and live 
daughters. His sons went west;— three of the daughters married 
and went west. Keziah married a Newell of Davenport, N. Y. 
Laura Jones married Deacon Warren Cone, lived and died here. 
They had three children. The son, Mr. Joseph W. Cone, is now liv- 
ing here." The following is not by Dea. Mars. 

About the year 1780 Mi'. Joseph Jones commenced to build the 
house mentioned above, which is still standing and in fair condi- 
tion, having bought of Mr. Ebenezer Burr eight acres of land in 
the north-west corner of said Burr's farm, beginning at a 'mere- 
stone' at said N. W. corner, which is the boundary of the present 
parsonage property, running southerly on the east line of the 
green to the north end of the present cottage near the academy, 
and ba'ck about to the brook. 

In 1793 Mr. Jones bought of Mr. Burr, "one acre, three roods and 
nine rods of land, beginning at the S. E. corner of said Jones's 
home lot." 

The post ofBce was kept in this house for a number of years. 
Mr. Jones was the post-master in 1816, at the time of the ordina- 
tion of Mr. Emerson, and died In 1832 at the age of 82. His 
record as a soldier in the revolutionary army is mentioned in that 
connection. Before he went into the army Mr. Jones had the 
frame of his two story house up to the rafters. Upon his return 
from the war he felt too poor to build a two story house, so he 
cut off the posts and made it one story, as it is today. Some of the 
later occupants, who were tall people used often to wish, as they 
bumped their heads in those low chambers, that Mr. Jones had 



HISTOEY OF NORFOLK. 513 

not cut off those posts so short. A child was born to Mrs. Jones 
soon after he entered the army, which he never saw till it was 
three years old, as he did not return honae in all that time. Clarissa, 
daughter of Mr. Joseph Jones, married a Mr. Andrus of Davenport, 
N. Y. The pine clapboards and other pine timber used by Mr. 
Warren Cone in building his fine house in 1836, was sawed by Mr. 
Andrus at Davenport, N. Y.; lumber without a knot being selected, 
draAvn over the Catskill Mountains by teams, and brought here to 
be used in building Mr. Cone's house. 

"Mr. Asa Foot lived in the next house north, near where Mi-. 
Pettibone Thompson lives. He was a blacksmith; his shop was 
where Mr. F. E. Porter's house stands. 

"The next house was where Mr. James Swift, later Mr. 
Horace Stannard, lived. Dr. Benjamin Welch lived there, and 
afiterwards built the house where his son, Dr. William W. Welch, 
lives. He had nine children. His five sons all became doctors and 
all settled near Norfolk. Two of his daughters married ministers; 
Rev. Henry Cowles and Rev. Ira Pettibone. 

"Mr. Zebulun Shepard lived the next house east, south side of 
the road, where Franklin Bramble lived later." This old house 
still stands there, at the entrance to 'Knolly Brook.' Mr. Shepard 
was gate tender at the gate in Winsted. David Roys, a goldsmith, 
brother of Auren Roys, lived in this same house several years. 

In the nest house, which stood on the south side of the road 
near Charles H. Mills' barn, Mr. .7. Hollister, a blacksmith, lived. 
His shop was east of the house. He went from here to Salisbury. 

"The next house was Mr. Levi Thompson's, up on the hill, 
which Irad Mills owned later. Mr. Thompson was a tanner and 
shoe-maker. He built the house, which he sold to Ephraim Coy, 
where C. H. Mills lived. Mr. Thompson had two sons and two 
daughters, born in the old house. Sarah married Mr. Lemuel 
Aiken. His sons Giles and Seth spent their lives in this town. 

"Captain Benjamin Bigelow lived on the Chestnut Hill road, 
a little distance south, where his grandson Benjamin lives. Capt. 
Bigelow manufactured nails; wrought nails by hand, and a few 
machine made cut nails later. He had two sons, Mark and Lemuel, 
who lived and died in this town, and a son Robert who lived in 
Florida, and died there." 

In the war of 1812 Capt. Bigelow drilled a military company 
for service on a lot on Beech flats. 

"Capt. Timothy Gaylord lived on the top of the hill east. He 
built a house which was burned just as it was completed; fire 
catching in some shavings when the workmen were at dinner. He 
rebuilt, and his son Reuben lived the larger part of his life on this 
place. Capt. Timothy Gaylord died at his old home in 1825, aged 90." 



514 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

"On Pond Hill, a few rods east of the forks of the roads was 
the house where Mr. Hopestill Welch lived. He had nine children; 
most of them went to Ohio. His son, Dr. Benjamin, is mentioned 
elsewhere.'' 

Hopestill Welch had three sons and ten daughters. 

"Royce Gaylord, a brother of Timothy mentioned before, lived 
in the next house east, which he built in about 1780. He had six 
sons; three of them went to Pennsylvania. His son Royce lived 
in the house with his father and died there in 1833, aged 48. Royce 
Gaylord, sen., who was a soldier of the Revolution and of the 
French war, died in 1825, aged 87." 

Timothy, son of Royce, sen., built a house on the Greenwoods 
turnpike and opened a tavern about 1800, and continued to keep it 
for about thirty-five years. He was a Free Mason, and for many 
years the lodge held their meetings in his house, where there was 
a large ball-room, as it was called. In those early days the country 
was a wilderness, full of wild animals. Royce Gaylord' Sen. 
caught and killed a large panther that had killed a yearling steer 
of his. Sherman Cowles, when a schoolboy, often stopped to see 
the old people who lived in the west part of the house, and Royce 
Jun., in the east part. After the death of the younger man, in 
1833, Sherman Cowles bought of his widow a musket that was 
captured in the French war, and carried in the Revolutionary war. 

THE COWLES FAMILY. 

The following was prepared many years ago by Mr. Peter 
Corbin of Colebrook and is now kindly furnished for this history 
by Mr. Benjamin W. Pettibone of Winchester: 

"Tradition says the first Cowles came to this country in 1665. 
He was a merchant in London, and went to Holland for goods. On 
his return he found the gates shut and the 'plague' raging, and im- 
mediately sailed for America. The name was spelt Coles, Cowls, 
Cole and Cowles. 

We begin at Farmington, Conn. Samuel B. married a Newell:— 
an Albino." 

(The Albinos had pink eyes, which seemed very weak, and were 
almost closed and their sight seemed very defective. Their hair 
was white, and complexion exceedingly white. Within the past 
two or three generations it has been said that some of the descen- 
dants of this couple showed evidences of the pink, 'squinted' eye.) 

"Samuel, 2d, born 1710; married a Brooks; died in New Hart- 
ford, 1798, aged 88. Their children were Samuel, born October, 
1735; married Sybil North. 

Martha, born 1741; married Thomas Curtis. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 515 

Amasa, born Feb. 5, 1745; married Lucy North. 
Eunice, born 1749; married Job Curtis. 
Jerusha. born 1751; married Ebenezer North. 
Mindwell, married Thomas Judd. 
Adna, born 1754; married Ruth Boardman. 

Abigail, born 1752; married 1st, . 2d, Miles Riggs. 

Abigail Riggs died November 14, 1833, aged 81. 
Miles Riggs died September 17, 183G, aged 88. 
Dea. Samuel Cowles 3d, was born in Cheshire, Conn, October 
1735; married Sybil North, daughter of Ebenezer and Sybil-Curtis- 
North, of Farmington; she was born 173(5. 

Dea. Samuel Cowles died October 1815, aged 80. 
Sybil, his wife, died September 1807, aged 71. 
Deacon Samuel Cowles came from Cheshire to Torringford; 
settled in family estate, and removed to Norfolk about 1758, near 
the place where Warren Cone built his house. 

Cowles and Curtis built the first grist mill west of the centre, 
near the site of the present grist mill." (This statement does not 
agree with the records of the proprietors of the town, nor with the 
early land records. T. W. C.) 

"They (Cowles and Curtis), also carried on the potash business, 
and kept a small store of goods. He (Cowles) removed to the south 
end of Norfolk about 1780, and occupied the farm called the Ferry 
farm, a few rods south of the south end school-house. He afterwards 
moved to the farm called 'Chestnut hill,' about 1790; there he car- 
ried on potash making and kept a store of goods; and it is said 
he had the only store of goods kept in Norfolk until Joseph Battell 
commenced trading. Deacon Cowles had a grist mill at the south 
end in company with another man: Mr. Boardman, I think. 

In October, 1803 or '04, he with his son Samuel Jr., removed to 
Colebrook. Their farms lay in the three towns about equal; Nor- 
folk, Colebrook, and Winchester,— of nearly 300 acres. Soon after 
he came to Colebrook, he was chosen deacon of the Congregational 
Church there, which office he held until his death. He lived a 
very exemplary life; a live, devoted Christian; in the family devo- 
tions very exact and uniform in the time of its exercise. His 
last public prayer was on the last Sabbath he attended meeting 
before his death, during the awakening of the fall and winter of 
1815. I seem now to see him as he stood up in his earnest and 
fervent manner, he offered up his petition that the Holy Spirft 
might be poured out upon this place; that sinners might be con- 
verted and brought to repentance; and fully in a measure in his 
own family, was his prayer answered. Deacon Cowles served in 
the French and Indian wars. Was at the siege of Louisburg, and 
the taking of Crown Point and Ticonderoga. He was full of good 



516 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

humor and cheerful; very earnest in politics; a strong Federal. 
At one time he accompanied the minister on a pastoral visit where 
the family were averse to the subject of religion. He thought 
they had been treated rather coldly. When they left, the deacon 
began to scrape his feet on the step. The minister said to him, 
'Why, what are you doing?' He replied, 'taking the Scripture in- 
junction, that if they refuse to hear you, shalie off the dust of 
your feet for a testimony against them when ye depart.' Much 
more might be added. Deacon Cowles used to say that his grand- 
father was a 'Fairier Doctor' in Cromwell's Army." 

In all his intercourse with his fellow-men he was exact and just. 
One little incident will illustrate the mother. During the political 
strife in Jefferson's days much was said about Democrats and 
Federals. Dea. Cowles had been to Colebrook to attend Freeman's 
meeting. On his return home he described the appearance of the 
Democrats in a ludicrous manner; poorly shod, and clad with old 
slouching hats, etc. While in bed that night the mother with her 
babe dreampt she had a Democrat in bed with her, and as a good 
honest Federal woman she dumped the babe out on the floor, con- 
verting him and his descendants, doubtless, to good Republicans 
ever after. 

An incident of one of the family connections, moving from New 
York State to the Sciota country, Ohio, was very painful. Com- 
mencing the journey, he sent forward one of his sons with a drove 
of cattle and sheep. He put up for the night, and was never heard 
from afterward, and it was supposed that he was murdered." 

Mr. Joseph Rockwell came from Colebrook and settled 
in the east part of this town, where he spent his life, and 
died in 1843, aged 85. His daughter married Mr. Thomas 
Trumbull Cowles, also mentioned elsewhere, and they 
spent their lives on a farm very near where they were born. 
Mr. Cowles died in September, 1877, aged 73. On the same 
farm their son, Joseph Rockwell Cowles, still lives. Their 
younger son, Alva Seymour Cowles, who had been repeat- 
edly elected to fill nearly all the town oflSces, in different 
years, and who had represented the town also in the Legis- 
lature of the State, was in July, 1896, fatally injured in an 
accident, and his untimely death at the age of 57 was uni- 
versally deplored. 

Mr. George Rockwell, son of Joseph Rockwell, spent 
most of his life in this town; married Myris Guiteau, 
daughter of Dr. Philo Guiteau, and died in February, 1855, 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 517 

aged 61. Their son, Columbus Rockwell, studied law, mar- 
ried Margaret, daughter of Capt. Augustus Phelps, went 
West, and died in middle life. Philo Guiteau Rockwell, 
son of George Rockwell, was a physician of note; practiced 
for many years in Waterbury in this state, died at Aiken, 
S. C, February 6, 1888, and was buried at Waterbury. 

Amasa Cowles, who for a time lived in the south end district 
in this town, about the year 1776 built the house a short distance 
east of the Royce Gaylord place, where he spent his life and died 
in 1832, aged 87. His son Amasa, Jr., lived in the house with his 
father, and died there in 1827, aged 56. 

Mr. Cowles Sen., liept a tavern in this house until about 1820. 
At the time Burgoyne's army passed through this town, a portion 
of the army was encamped a little east of Mr. Cowles' house, and 
the men came into his house exhausted by their long march, and 
lay down upon their faces on the floor in such numbers that the 
women could not get around the house to do their worli. When 
asked to get out of the way the men said, "We are so tired we 
can't get up, and you can walli over us, stepping on our backs," and 
this the women did. Mr. Cowles was a Revolutionary soldier. He 
was detailed once in the winter time during the war to take a load 
of provisions from Norfolk to the army at Johnstown, N. Y. He 
went with an ox-team and made the round trip in six weeks. He 
said once to his comrades in the army, "Do you want to see me 
cut off the head of that swallow sitting on the ridge of the barn?" 
He fired, and the head of the swallow dropped one side of the roof, 
and the body the other side. 

Amasa Cowles, Jun., married first Sabrina Bull of Winsted. 
The children of this marriage were Saphronia, who married Alva 
Seymour and lived in Turin, N. Y., and Thomas Trumbull, who 
spent his life on a farm a short distance east of his birthplace. 
His second wife was Hannah Hosmer of South Canaan. Their 
children were Sherman Hosmer, William Everett and Henry 
Martyn. 

Thomas Hosmer, the grandfather of those last mentioned, was 
a captain in the Revolutionary army. In a N. Y. regiment. At one 
time, wtih a squad of twelve men he surprised the British soldiers 
in a fort on Lake Erie and compelled them to surrender, although 
the British outnumbered the Americans by one man. Capt. Hosmer 
died in the old Cowles house in Norfolk, at the age of 96 years. 
The above incidents are given as related by Mr. Sherman Cowles, 
early in the year 1900, he assuring me they were given as related 
repeatedly in his presence by his grandparents, Amasa Cowles and 
Capt. Thomas Hosmer. 



518 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Lieut. Samuel Pettibone lived a short distance east of the 
Amasa Cowles place. He lived iu a log house a few years, and in 
about 1779 built the house where he spent the remainder of his 
life, where his son Amos lived a few years after his father's death, 
and where Mr. Thomas T. Cowles spent his life, having, when a 
young man, bought out Dea. Amos Pettibone. One of Samuel 
Pettiboue's sons, Samuel Jr., lived a short distance east of his 
father's place, at the foot of the hill, on the south side of the road, 
and died there in 1813, before the death of his father, leaving sons, 
Lorrin and Alanson. Their place was sold to James Mars, who, 
after living there a few years, sold to Mr. Thomas T. Cowles. The 
old house is still standing, having been made into a barn. Samuel 
Pettibone's son, Luman, was a physician and lived in Stoclvholm, 
N. Y. His son, Philo, died in early married life. Dr. Luman Petti- 
bone had three sons who were ministers; Rev. Roswell, of Canton, 
N. Y. ; Rev. Ira, who married Louisa P. Welch of this town, and 
Rev. Philo C. Pettibone of Burlington and Beloit, Wisconsin. 

A Dr. Bidwell for a time lived a little east of Samuel Petti- 
bone Jun.'s. Mr. Joseph Rockwell later owned and lived in the 
same house, which was burned when Mr. Rocliwell was an old 
man, having caught fire when he was burning out the chimney. 

"Mr. Joseph Loomis lived near the Colebrook line; the house 
stood some rods west of the brook that crosses the road near the 
line. The barn stood on the north side of the road, nearly opposite 
the house." 

Anson Couch moved what was called the old Avery house from 
near the Colebrook line, upon Mr. French's farm, where he spent 
his life. 

An Indian named John George lived for a time in the old Avery 
house. He had two sons, John George and Stephen George, the 
latter of whom is remembered by a few still living. 

Mr. Philemon Gaylord, son of Joseph and Rachel Tibbals Gay- 
lord, lived on the farm where his son Capt. Hiram Gaylord spent 
most of his life. This place has been the town farm for many 
years. Philemon Gaylord married Martha Curtiss. He had other 
sons, Lewis, Joseph, and Philemon Curtiss; the latter lived on the 
Greenwoods turnpike, a short distance east of the green, where 
his daughters Irene and Anna now reside. 

"Mr. Benjamin Maltbie lived on the old line of the Greenwoods 
turnpike, a short distance east of Timothy Gaylord's tavern. He 
married Abigail, daughter of Reuben Munger. They had eleven 
children, most of whom went west. His son Elon spent most of 
his life on this place and died there." 

"Mr. Edmond Akins, son of Mr. Henry Akins, lived on the 
green, the first house south of the meeting-house, where Mr. Elizur 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 519 

Dowel now lives (1857). He was a lawyer; had a son who went to 
Ohio, and a daughter who married Mr. Ashley, and lived in Hills- 
dale, N. Y." 

Mr. Auren Roys lived in a house that stood where Rev. Dr. 
Eldridge's house now stands. He was a son of Mr. Nathaniel Roys, 
who earlier had lived where ]Mr. Daniel Burr and then his son, 
Mr. Silas Burr, lived. Nathaniel Roys died in 1832 in his 100th 
year. 

Auren Roys was a goldsmith, and the later part of his life a 
druggist. For a time he had his 'apothecary shop,' as it was called, 
in the gambrel roofed house just north of Dr. Benj. Welch's, and 
later he lived in the house just north and In the rear of the meet- 
ing-house, and had his little shop just at the north-east corner of 
the house. This house was torn down about 1895. Dr. Boyce, or 
Pa Rice, as he used to be called, had but one child, a daughter, who 
married a Mr. Salmon, and lived in Richmond, Mass. He was the 
author of the only history of Norfolk that has as yet been pub- 
lished, reference to which and quotations from which in this booR 
will be often found. He was for nearly forty years Town Clerk 
and also Ecclesiastical Society's Clerk, until old age and impaired 
health forced him to resign. The remarkably neat, careful way in 
which for all those years he kept the record of the town and society 
is an enduring evidence of the character of the man— "Faithful in 
that which is least, faithful also in much." A few still remain 
who remember that row of saints, seatmates for many years, in fhe 
seat next north of the pulpit in church, who were always there, 
always sang every hymn, always showed that they were in a devout 
frame of spirit, and rarely fell asleep during the sermon. They 
were Dr. and Mrs. Roys, Mrs. Mary Gaylord, and Mrs. Lucy Case. 
Of them, if of any who ever lived upon earth, in the opinion of the 
writer it could be said, "Behold, Israelites indeed, in whom is no 
guile." 

One or two well authenticated anecdotes will prove that "Man 
wants but little here below." In a Society's meeting in this town 
the question being discussed was. How much does a minister 
really need to support his family for a year? and different ones 
were asked how much of the standard meat, — pork, which was 
almost the only meat used,— do you use in your family? One re- 
plied, "In our family of three the past year w^e used eighteen 
pounds of meat." 

The same man came in one hot summer's forenoon from work- 
ing in his garden, and in the presence of one of their neighbors 
said, 'Mother, I feel wearied, and I think it will be necessary that 
I have some luncheon.' He went to the pantry and brought out a 
tablespoon filled with custard, sat down, and with a teaspoon ate 



520 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

his limcheou with great apparent satisfaction, and when his repast 
was finished remarlced, 'I feel very much refreshed.' 

Dr. Auren Roys died Sept. 19, 18.58, aged 85. 

Mrs. Roys died Sept. IG, 1853, aged 82. 

Another son of Nathaniel Roys, named David, was a gold- 
smith. 

Mr. Ebenezer Burr. Avho was one of the original proprietors and 
first settlers of the town, lived just at the south end of the green, his 
first house having doubtless been built of logs; his second house, of 
the lean-to style, having stood a few rods south of what was later 
the Darius Phelps, and still later the Benjamin Crissey house. Mr. 
Burr was for some years a prominent man in town and churcli 
affairs; for a number of years after the organization of the town 
he was the town Treasui'er, and was one of the committee who 
petitioned the Colonial Assembly for the incorporation of the town, 
which was granted in 1758, so that the inhabitants might have 
town privileges and enjoy the preaching of the gospel. He was the 
fourth generation from Benjamin Burr, the founder of the Hart- 
ford branch of the Burr family; son of John Burr of Farmington, 
Ct., where he was born July 9, 1712. His sons were Ebenezer, 
Oliver, Daniel and Aaron. Their descendants at one time were 
quite numerous in this town. There are five descendants of Daniel 
Burr in town at present, males of the name Burr, and a larger 
number bearing other names. 

Ebenezer Burr died March 12, 1794, aged 82. Upon his tomb- 
stone in the Centre Cemetery is the inscription, "He shall come to 
his grave in a full age, lili;e as a shock of coi-n cometh in in his 
season." 

Ebenezer Burr Jun., lived for a time on the old Goshen road, 
in what was later Stephen Tibbals house, still later Joel Beach's 
house, which stood not far from the site of the present Bridgman 
mansion. This house was probably built by Cornelius Brown, just 
at the foot of Burr Mountain, as it was called. He was a man 
who, according to tlie i-ecords, held several town offices. His entry 
into public life was made Feb. 3, 1762, when in town meeting it 
was 'Voted to give Ebenezer Burr Jun., five shillings to sweep the 
meeting-house and take care that the doors and windows are shut 
till the annual meeting next December.' 

Dea. Mars says: "Opposite of Auren Roys, Capt. Darius Phelps, 
son of Mr. John Phelps, lived. He tore down the old house and 
built the house where Mr. Crissey now lives, a few rods north of 
where the old house was. He kept a tavern here for many years. 
He married Mary Aiken. Their cliildren were Wilcox and Darius, 
mentioned elsewhere, and probably others." Mrs. Phelps, called 
by many people 'Aunt MoUie,' was a imique character. She was a 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 521 

very constant attendant at church. One Siuiday some trouble with 
her foot prevented her wearing her shoe, and so kept her at home. 
A large number of friends and acquaintances came to her house to 
spend the intermission between services, as usual, and the greeting 
from each one was, 'Why, Aimt Mollie, are you sick? You wasn't 
at meeting!' When she had heard the same thing and explained 
until it had become monotonous she said, 'Half the people don't 
go to meeting half the time, but if I stay home half a day the 
whole town is in an uproar.' 

The Masonic Fraternity often held their meetings in the ball- 
room at Capt. Phelps' tavern. Aunt Mollie was not wholly in 
favor of the oi'der. Candidates for initiation used often to come 
into her sitting room and wait to be called up to pass through the 
ordeal. One night a young man sat waiting to be called, and Mrs. 
Phelps said to him, 'Are you going to join the Masons?' He as- 
sented, when presently she said, 'Then I must have my part ready.' 
So she stirred up the great bed of coals in the fireplace, brought in 
her gridiron and put it heating, raising it almost to a white heat. 
The young man thought that was proof positive that he should 
have to sit on a red-hot gridiron, as he had heard was the case. He 
very soon started out, not waiting to be called for initiation. 

Capt. Darius Phelps died in 1818, aged 6G. 

His wife, Mary Aiken Phelps, died Feb. 16, 1846, aged 87. 

"Mr. Isaac Balcom lived for a time in the house south, at the 
foot of the hill, near the brook." This house was built and occupied 
as a 'spinning house' for some years, as is mentioned elsewhere. 
In 1815 Major James Shepard came to Norfolk from Winsted and 
built a tannery on the brook, a little north of the old Robbins 
House, not far from the present Robbins School-house. He lived 
in the old 'spinning house,' long known as Mrs. Nettleton's house, 
now the home of Mrs. Peter Curtiss, and with a Mr. Starr did quite 
a business here for several years. In 1820 he deeded to Benjamin 
C. Cross "the land where I now live, with the dwelling-house and 
other buildings, bounded E., N. and S. on Darius Phelps, W. on 
highway, and one other piece where my tanhouse stands, bounded 
east and north on the highway, south and west on Joseph Battell's 
land. Said last piece has a barn and tanhouse standing thereon. 
Both pieces contain about two acres." 

Major Shepard came to Winsted from New Hartford about 
1800, with Col. Hosea Hinsdale, with whom he was associated in 
the tanning business until 1810, when, in company with Asahel 
Miller, he built the original tannery on the site of the George 
Dudley tannery. He came to Norfolk in 1815 and continued in 
the tanning business until 1820, when he commenced keeping a 
hotel in the house built and formerly kept by Capt. Ariel Lawrence, 



522 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

just opposite Dr. "Welch's residence. A little later he bought of 
Aaron Hosmer the farm and tavern which was built by .Josiah 
Pettibone, near Haystack brooli. Hei'e he kept hotel and was 
largely interested in the Hartford and Albany stage line, his house 
being a stopping point for all the stages. He lived here the re- 
mainder of his life and died in 1846, aged 71. He married a Miss 
Rockwell. 

Their children were: .John Andros, born 1802; kept the Shepard 
Hotel at the northwest corner of the green the greater part of his 
life. Laura Seymour, born 1804; died unmarried. James Hutchins, 
born 1806, for many years a merchant in this town; a very earnest 
Christian man, a staunch supporter and the main pillar of the 
]Methodist Episcopal Church. He never married. Late in life he 
went to Wisconsin, where he died, February, 1895, aged 89. 

Eliza, who was born in 1808, married Mr. Alfred Dennis of 
Newark, Nev^ Jersey, a prominent business man, a dealer in 
leather, in which business he amassed a large fortune. He was tlie 
lirst man to have a residence for summer only in Norfolk, having 
l)ought soon after 1S50 the house which is now the j)arsonage. 
which he rebuilt in very fine style. 

Samuel Shepard, born 1812; married a sister of Mr. Alfred L. 
Dennis. Kept the Beardsley House in Winsted several years. Died 
in Norfolk in 1872. His son, Edward Shepard, is a Professor in 
Drury College at Springfield, Missouri. 

The house mentioned above "at the foot of the hill near the 
brook," where Mr. Cross, Major James Shepard, and later "the 
Widow Nettleton" lived for many years, and which is now the 
home of Mrs. Mary Aiken Curtiss, was built about 1790 for a 
"spinning-house" by a number of the prominent families of the 
town at that day, among them being Rev. Mr. Robbins, Mr. Giles 
Fettibone Jr., Mi*. Grove Lawrence, and others. The ladies of 
the town, some of them, had their flax wheels placed there; power 
was brought from the brook to run their wheels, and these ladies 
did their spinning there instead of at their homes, where they had 
to furnish "foot-power" to run their wheels. Mrs. Julia Pettibone, 
who died in 1876 at the age of 89, often told her friends that when 
a child she used to go there with her mother and take care of the 
baby while her mother was spinning. 

Dea. Mars says again: 'After leaving the house where Ebenezer 
P.urr, .Jr., lived, the road went south over the hill. There were 
three houses before the road came out, near where the railroad now 
crosses the Goshen road. Zebadiah Johnson, the father of Mr. 
Samuel Johnson, lived in the first house south of Mr. Burr's. This 
place has since been known as the Dutton and the Wooster farm. 

'Next on the old road Mr. Aaron Brown lived. He went to 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 523 

Ohio and all his family.' This house was on the Spaulding farm, 
the old site being clearly visible still. Aaron Brown was the son 
of Titus Brown, one of the first settlers of the town, and a soldier 
of the Revolution. He died on this place in February, 1802, aged 
88. His son, Titus,' Jr., died May, 1782. Aaron was his only son 
who lived to maturity. He married Lucy Sturdevant and moved 
to Ohio in 1814. Their children were: Rhoda, born 1785; died 17'J7. 
Aaron, Jr., born 1789. Titus, born 1792. Ezra, born 1795. James 
Sturdevant, born 1801. 

'Mr. Edmund Bi-own lived next south. I think he had no chil- 
dren.' Mr. Edmund Brown was one of the early settlers of the 
town; son of Abraham Brown of Coventiy. The land records of 
this town show a deed of land to him In December, 1757, and an- 
other in January, 1758. He was born in 1735. Married Anna Burr 
May 9, 1764. They had no children, and he adopted his nephew. 
Edmund Brown of Manchester, who came to Norfolk to live with 
his uncle in about 1784, and who became a prominent resident of 
the town. 

Edmund Brown, the elder, lived on the Goshen road, a short 
distance north of where the Winchester road branches off. His 
wife survived him a number of years. 

The old house place, called the 'Aunt Anna place,' and a large 
rock by the side of the railroad track called the 'Aunt Anna Rock,' 
are still pointed out by those living in the neighborhood. From 
Edmund Brown and Titus Brown, the early owners. Brown moun- 
tain received its name, and more recently was named Sugar Hill, 
which name it still bears. 

'In the fork of the roads where the Winchester road branches 
off, Mr. Ebenezer Cole lived. The house is still standing. He 
tended the g-ate towards Winsted in the latter part of his life, and 
from there went to Salisbury, where he died.' 

'Mr. Ebenezer Norton's house, which has been torn down, stood 
next south, on the east side of the road, north of the Samuel John- 
son place. Some of Mr. Norton's grandchildren are still here (1857), 
the children of Esq. Edmund Brown.' 

Mr. Ebenezer Norton was an early settler in the town. He 
married, December 24, 1769, Content Dowd, daughter of Cornelius 
Dowd, formerly of Goshen. Another daughter, Mabel Dowd, mar- 
ried Isaac Holt. Ebenezer Norton, Sen., died May 15, 1833, aged 91. 
His wife died December 17, 1824, aged 73. Their children w^ere 
Chandler Dowd, who died in this town, unmarried, aged 29. Elisha, 
Isaac, Sally, Philura, and Mabel Holt, who married Esq. Edmund 
Brown, mentioned elsewhere, and Ebenezer, Jun., who married 
Philomela Parmeter. While their children were quite young they 
joined a large party and all moved, 'treked,' the Boers would say. 



524 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

to the Western Reserve,— the Connecticut lands in Ohio. They 
traveled all the way by ox teams, but after reaching their destina- 
tion Mr. Norton was not satisfied with the outlook, and he soon 
returned with his wife and little flock to Norfolk. 

Not long after his return he died, and his sister, Mrs. Edmund 
Brown, interested herself in the care and maintenance of his family, 
who had been deprived of their principal natural protector. His 
son, William, was killed when a young man in the Seminole war in 
Florida. Chandler was a successful business man, who spent his 
life in Pompton, New Jersey. His daughter, Rebeckah, married 
Mr. John Gray of Stepney, Ct. 'His daugl;ter, Sarah, married Mr. 
John Wayland of Trumbull, Conn. They had one son, Chandler 
Norton Wayland, who when a young man entered the Elton Bank- 
ing Company of Waterbury, and there continued until 1875, when 
he became president of Holmes, Both and Haydens, very extensive 
brass manufacturers, of Waterbury, and since that year has had 
his winter home in New York. In various positions of responsi- 
bility Mr. Wayland has exhibited unquestioned fidelity and dili- 
gence, and achieved a marked success. He has a beautiful summer 
home on one of the Thimble Islands, in Long Island Sound, which 
is a place of resort for his artist friends, authors and musicians. 
He is a musician of cultivated talent, possesses refined literary 
tastes, and a facile pen.' 

'Mr. Joseph Plumbley lived where Mr. Samuel Johnson, and 
later his son, Harvey Johnson, lived, south of Ebenezer Norton's, 
on the Goshen road. They had but one child. They moved to 
Stephentown, N. Y.' Mr. Plumbley married Dolly, daughter of Titus 
Brown. They both lived to be over ninety years of age. 

'The next were the Moses families, on south up the hill.' Joshua 
Moses, Jr., who was born in Simsbury, Feb. 24, 1727, came to Nor- 
folk, bought a piece of land of Joseph Mills in May, 1759, built 
a log house just south of what was known as the Thomas Moses 
place,— the present summer residence of Dr. A. S. Dennis; went 
back to Simsbury, married Abigail Terry, and brought her to Nor- 
folk on horseback, she riding on a pillion, and here they spent their 
lives. Their children were: Joshua 3d, who spent his life in this 
town; Abigail, who married Reuben Palmer, lived and died here; 
Jesse, who married Esther Brown, sister of Esq. Edmund Brown, 
and moved to Canaan Valley; Thomas, mentioned below; Ruth, 
Jonah, and Jonathan. The five sons married and settled for a time 
'within the sound of their father's dinner horn.' Thomas Moses 
spent his life on his father's original place. He married Abigail 
Brown, a sister of Esq. Edmund Brown, and they reared a family 
of five sons and five daughters. Salmon, the eldest, born Dec, 
1792, became a physician of note at Hoosick, N. Y. A letter written 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 525 

when a young man, to his mother, will be found below. Thomas 
Jr., Ralph, and Benjamin all died early in life. Benjamin Moses' 
daughter, Mrs. Hiram P. Lawrence, now resides in Winsted. Hiram 
also was a physician of note, at Petersburg, N. Y. 

The daughters: Julia married Nathaniel Oviatt. Betsey, born 
October 1, 1805, married Halsey Hulburt. They settled in Medina 
County, Ohio, and became prominent, prosperous people. Mrs. 
Hulburt never returned to visit her early home. She lived to be 92 
years of age. An account of her one trip to Ohio will be found 
below. Eunice married George Brown. Lived in Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Abigail married Lauren Foote. Ruth married Harlow Roys. Lived 
in Brooklyn, N. Y. 

The following extract from a letter of Betsey Moses Hulburt 
will give an idea of what a journey to eastern Ohio from Norfolk 
was, nearly seventy years ago: 

Westfleld, Ohio, May 30, 1831. 
Dear Sister: 

We arrived at Westfleld the fourteenth day after leaving home, 
rather fatigued. We set sail from near Albany Wednesday P. M. 
and arrived at Buffalo the next week Thursday; were on the canal- 
boat nine nights. The boat was very heavily loaded and we made 
but slow advance. We took the steamboat at Buffalo Friday morn- 
ing and landed at Cleveland Sabbath morning; from there hired 
a man to carry us to Westfleld. It was said there was rising of five 
hundred passengers with their baggage, besides fifteen or twenty 
horses on the boat. It was very stormy going up the lake, and the 
boat so loaded that I was obliged to have my chest and one of the 
boxes on the upper deck. The water soaked through one end of the 
box and wet my linen most through; my bonnet likewise. The 
cover to the Bible was dampened through, but I think not much 
injured. I was very seasick coming up the lake, and for three 
days after I landed. I like the country quite as well or better 
than I expected. Have not been homesick in the least. The wheat 
looks beautiful and promises a fine harvest. They organized a 
Presbyterian Church here Tuesday, with twenty-seven members. 
It is not probable that they will have preaching much of the time. 
All the company I have days is my little white kitten, hopping 
about as lively as a cricket. Adieu for the present. 

^ ,. BETSEY HULBURT. 

Miss Julia Moses, Norfolk, Conn. 

This was considered pretty rapid travelling, as it formerly took 
six weeks to make the journey to Ohio from Connecticut with ox 
teams. Now, 1900, the journey described in this letter can be made 
in less than twenty-four hours. Think of being on a canal-boat 
nine nights in making the trip from Albany to Buft"alo. Now it 



526 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

would not be called a fast train that would require nine hours 
between Albany and Buffalo, three hundred miles. 

Mrs. Hulburt, the writer of the above letter, never returned to 
her old Norfolk home, but in her Ohio home lived to see her great- 
grandchildren, and died in 1897, at the age of 92 years. 

FROM A LETTER OF DR. SALMON MOSES TO HIS MOTHER. 

The following extract from a letter of Salmon Moses, then a 
young physician, a son of Thomas Moses and Abigail Brown-Moses, 
his wife, cannot fail to interest some who may read this book, 
showing, as it does, that thoughtful young men then as now had 
their struggles, questionings, doubts and fears: 

Hoosick, N. Y., August 25th, 1S20. 
"Dear Mother: 

I received yours dated July 3rd, by which I find that you are 
anxious to be acquainted with my affairs, and the effects they pro- 
duce on my mind when not so prosperous as I could wish. As it 
respects business, I have as much as I could expect in my circum- 
stances. I have had no unfortunate cases in practice, but on the 
contrary some fortunate ones. However, I find that the race is not 
to the swift, nor the battle to the .strong, neither yet bread to the 
wise, nor riches to men of understanding,— nor yet favour to men 
of skill. Though I have spent many years in getting knowledge and 
understanding, I find that it is of little worth in the minds of the 
people, without riches. 

A poor man may by his wisdom save the lives of hundreds of 
his fellow creatures, even a whole city, yet that same poor man 
is not remembered. His wisdom is despised, and his words are not 
heard, because he is a poor man. See Ecclesiastes 9th, 14, 15 and 
16th verses. 

Such is the vanity and folly of people in these days that they 
imagine knowledge consists in wealth, and will pass by a dozen 
poor but wise men to hear the opinion of a rich man who is an 
ignoramus. I would not have you infer from this that I am losing 
ground, but that if I could have the appearance of having a little 
property it would be of great importance to me;— but if the fates do 
otherwise determine, I do not intend to run crazy about it. I do 
not wish or intend to have any persons involve themselves in diffi- 
culty on my account, for I had rather suffer myself than be the 
cause of the suffering of others. 

From your obedient son, 

SALMON MOSES." 

To Mrs. Abigail Moses." 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 527 

It appears that in her reply this mother referred her son to Ps. 
1:6; Ps. 33, 20 to 22; Job 17:9; Proverbs 4:18; I Peter 1, 3 to 5. 

Joshua Moses 3cl, son of Joshua 2cl, who was the first settler in 
this town of the Moses name, was born July, 17G2, lived on the 
hill east from the Esq. Edmund Brown place, and died there Au- 
gust, 1820. He married Elizabeth Baleom, whose father came 
from Simsbury and settled on an old road that ran south from the 
Moses place through to where Mr. Meeker settled, in what was 
called Meeliertown. The old Baleom house place is still plainly 
visible; many of the old apple trees still stand there, and the cur- 
rant bushes bear their yearly crop of fruit, although the house itself 
has been gone for more than half a century, and the occupants are 
all forgotten. A small pond half a mile or so south of this old 
place is still called "Baleom pond," from this Mr. Baleom. It is 
sometimes called "Dolphin pond," also, from an Indian named 
Dolphin who once lived near there. This pond is the source of the 
Naugatuck river. 

The other sons of the first Joshua in this town were Jonathan, 
Jesse, and Jonah. The five sous originally 'settled within the 
sound of their father's dinner-horn,' but the three just mentioned 
moved away from town. Joshua Nelson Moses, son of Joshua 3d, 
lived on his father's old homestead until middle life, when he sold 
out to Curtiss Bradley, bought the old .John Strong farm nest nortb 
from the Thomas Moses place, where he died in 1858, aged 57. 

'Next on the old Goshen road that went on from the Moses 
place over the hill was Mr. Asa Burr. His daughters, Diantha and 
Polly, are living in town (1857).' Mr. Asa Burr was a grandson of 
Ebenezer Burr Sen., mentioned elsewhere. The last descendant 
in this town of Mr. Asa Burr was gone at the death of Mrs. Mary 
Oakley Beach and her son, William Burr Beach. 

Down the hill east from the Asa Burr place, where Mr. Joseph 
Bruey now lives. Captain John Bradley lived in the early days of 
the town. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, was at 
Saratoga at Burgoyne's surrender, and served in other campaigns. 
Mr. Norman Riggs remembered him well. Capt. Bradley had sons, 
Sylvester and Edward Curtiss, who were for a time well known 
in this town until they moved away. One daughter of Captain 
Bradley married Mr. Solomon Curtiss, a native of this town, and 
another daughter married Mr. Almon Howe of Canaan. 

'The next house south from the Asa Burr place, on the old 
Goshen road, was that of Cornelius Brown.' He was a son of 
Cornelius Brown, who was one of the first settlers in Norfolk. He 
was born in Windsor, Jan.. 1740, and came to Norfolk when only 
three or four years old. He married Mary Loomis; their children 
were Reuben, Abijah, Luman, Susanna, and Uriah. He died April 
25, 1821. aged 81. 



528 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Reuben Brown, born July 13, 1779, lived and died on the place 
■where his father, Cornelius Brown, lived; married Huldah Griswold 
Oct. 2, 1805. Their children were five sons and four daughters. 
One son, William, died young, unmarried. The eldest, Seth Gris- 
wold, lived and died a short distance south from the place of his 
birth, and a son who bears his father's name lives on the same 
place. 

The second son, George, spent the last part of his life and died 
in Brooklyn, N. Y., where his children and grandchildren princi- 
pally lived. The third son, Warren Loomis, lived and died in Fair 
Haven, Ct. ; had two sons but no grandsons. The youngest of the 
family, Reuben Quincy, established a boys' school at West Haven, 
Conn., in 18-52, which he conducted successfully until impaired 
health forced him to retire from it. He was most successful as a 
teacher, greatly esteemed and beloved as a citizen, foremost in 
every good work, intelligent and active to a marked degree as a 
Christian man, in the church and community; universally mourned 
at his early death in 1870, aged 47. His eldest son, Frank Elwood, 
a successful business man, and a daughter, Mrs. Minnie Johnson, 
reside at Redlands, California. 

'In the next house south, still on the old Goshen road, Mr. John 
Beach lived.' This place later was the farm of Mr. Hiram Royee, 
and more recently was joined to the Riggs farm. 

'Next was Mr. Asher Smith.' This was the farm of Mr. Eden 
Riggs, and of his sons, Hiram H. and Miles; industrious and most 
successful farmers and excellent citizens. 

'Mr. Josiah Royce, the father of Hiram Royce, lived on the 
farm mentioned above, owned by Mr. Seth Brown.' 

Following Dea. Mars again, we come back to the centre. He 
says:— 'On toward Canaan mountain Mr. Daniel Cole, the father of 
Ebenezer Cole, mentioned in another place, lived, near the place 
where Samuel Smith lives.' This was near 'Treat corner,' as it was 
called, where Barzel Treat lived,— the man for whom the society 
bought bass viol strings, that he might assist the choir. This 
house is now gone. 

'Next Mr. Nathaniel Royce, father of Auren Roys, lived. The 
house is torn down.' It is interesting to note that this name is 
spelled in the same family R-o-y-c-e, R-o-y-s and R-i-c-e. 

'Next Widow Huldah Curtiss lived. There is one daughter, two 
grandsons and four great-grandsons living in the same house.' At 
the present time (1900) the above occupants of that house are all 

gone, the widow of Mr. Philip E. Curtiss remaining there. The 

Mrs. Curtiss mentioned by Dea. Mars was the widow of Mr. Solo- 
mon Curtiss, who was the son of Mr. Thomas Curtiss, mentioned 
elsewhere, who died in the Revolutionary army of smallpox, at 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 529 

Stillwater, N. Y., in 1776. Mr. Solomon Curtiss, who married Hul- 
dali, daughter of Henry Akins, served also for a time in the Revo- 
lutionary army, and who died in 1796 at the age of 33, was the 
father of Anna, Thomas, Henry, Huldah, Lucy and Solomon Cur- 
tiss; the youngest born after the death of his father. Anna, Henry 
and Lucy spent their lives on the old homestead, and died unmar- 
ried; Anna, November, 1868, aged 85; Lucy, June, 1880, aged 87; 
Henry, February, 1849, aged 61. 

Thomas married Mai'ia Pettibone, and their children were 
Peter, Sarah, Thomas, Philip Everett and Henry. Of this family 
Henry, the youngest, a boy of unusual promise, died at ten years 
of age. Sarah spent her life, unmarried, in the old home; was one 
of the most intelligent, active, earnest Christian women of her day; 
a teacher for many years of a large class of women in the Sunday 
School, her class filling the choir seats on one side of the organ. 
The sons, Thomas and Philip E., spent their lives on the old home- 
stead; were some of Norfolk's best farmers and citizens. Thomas 
died in middle life of pneumonia, April, 1872, at the age of 50, and 
his only child, Henry T., died from an accident the nest year, 
November, 1873, at 23 years of age, leaving one daughter. Philip 
E. was for many years one of the deacons of the Congregational 
Church. He died in 1896, at the age of 72. 

Peter Curtiss when a young man was clerk for some years in 
Esq. Battell's store in this town. Later he was bookkeeper for 
Hunts, Lyman «& Co., manufacturers of iron in South Canaan, 
going from there to New York city, where for some fifteen years 
he was engaged in mercantile business. He returned to his native 
town about 1850, and with Mr. Elizur Dowd opened a general store 
in the old Battell store, continuing there in business about two 
years, when they organized the firm of Curtiss & Co., bought out 
Myron H. Mills, and moved to the store on the corner of Maple 
Avenue, where he continued in business until compelled by failing 
health to retire. He died April 27, 1864, aged 49 years. He was 
Town Clerk and Society's Clerk until by failing health compelled 
to resign. Very few residents of this town during its entire history 
have had more devoted, constant friends, or been more worthy of 
them from natural generosity, nobleness of heart and purpose than 
Peter Curtiss. He was said to be 'everybody's friend and confi- 
dential adviser,' and at his early death the remark was heartily 
and repeatedly made, 'I can't see how the people in this town are 
going to get along without him.' But such is life; in a little while, 
outside of his family circle, he was forgotten and unknown. He 
was most ardently patriotic at the time of the War of the Rebel- 
lion, and everything that it was within his power to do for the men 
who went to the front, or for their families, or to encourage others 



530 HISTORY OF NOKFOLK. 

to enlist and go, was most heartily done. In the dark days of 1863, 
when many of the Norfolk men were reported lying in different 
hospitals, disabled by sickness and by wounds received in battle, 
he went to the front to look after the men, and to do what he could 
to comfort, help and cheer them, and his visit was to them thaf of 
an angel of mercy. 

During that struggle there were in Connecticut, as perhaps in 
every northern state, men whose sympathies were all upon the side 
of the south, and who were constantly saying, 'You never can 
subdue the south; they will fight until the last man is in the last 
ditch,' etc. These men were called 'copperheads,' and some of them 
wore a pin made of an old copper cent. After one of the worst 
defeats of the Union forces in 1863, one of these southern sympa- 
thizers came into Mr. Curtiss's store and, as the writer well re- 
members, said: 'Well, what did I tell you? This shows that you 
never can beat them, and the sooner you people learn that fact, and 
stop shooting men for nothing, the better it will be.' Mr. Curtiss's 
reply in brief was: "I know that our cause is a just and righteous 
one. I do not believe, I cannot believe, that God will permit this 
government of ours to be broken up. The situation today does look 
dark;— but there is not a shadow of question or doubt in my mind 
as to the final outcome of this war, any more than there is that the 
sun will rise tomorrow morning." In 1864 he "died in faith, not 
having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and 
was persuaded of them, and embraced them." His faith was well 
founded, and his vision of the final outcome of the struggle was 
clear. 

In the later years of his life Mr. Ebenezer Burr exchanged 
farms with Capt. Darius Phelps, leaving his home just at the south 
,end of the green, and removed to Capt. Phelps' farm on the 
Canaan mountain road, where he had erected a good house. He 
built the house at the south end of the green on the old Burr place, 
which still stands there, modernized. In 1860 Ralph I. Crissey, a 
great-grandson of Ebenezer Burr, married Miss Cornelia R. Sey- 
mour, a great-grandaughter of Capt. Darius Phelps, and the young 
couple settled for life upon the place which had been the home 
of the ancestors of each. Mr. Ebenezer Burr spent his last days 
in his mountain home, died in 1794, and his son Aaron Burr suc- 
ceeded him, who also died there in 1821, aged 71. Oliver Burr, 
son of Aaron Burr, spent most of his life in his native district; 
was a manufacturer of potash, and was known as 'Potash Burr.' 
His children, James Burr and Charlotte Burr-Robinon, spent their 
lives in this town. 

Mr. Moses Camp, lived on this Canaan mountain road, about 
midway of the Curtiss corner and the Phelps-Burr place. His 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 531 

sous, Moses, Edward and Caleb J. Camp were for many years very 
prominent men in ttie growtla and development of Winsted, and his 
son, Samuel Sheldon Camp, owned and occupied for man years the 
Phelps-Burr place, and died March 1881, aged 80. His son Doctor 
Samuel Camp, for nearly half a century has been a very prom- 
inent physician of Great Barrington, Mass.; and another son. Dr. 
Charles Camp, is settled as a physician in North Canaan, Conn. 
The place mentioned above, which has one of the most beautiful 
and extensive views in this vicinity, is the summer home of Pro- 
fessor Frothingham. 

Mr. Ephraim Coy, who married a daughter of Mr. Henry 
Akins, built the house on the corner opposite the Curtiss house, 
where Zalmon Parrott and his children have lived many years. 
He sold this place, bought on Beech Flats the old Wilcox tavern 
and farm, where he lived several years, and by his will gave this 
place at Mrs. Coy's death, to the Ecclesiastical Society of Norfolk, 
having no children. He bought of Mr. Levi Thompson the place 
where he died in 1834, aged 72. When only thirteen years old Mr. 
Coy went as a fifer into the Revolutionary army. His service in 
the army is mentioned elsewhere. 

'North from the Curtiss place, on the road that comes around by 
the grist-mill, just at the turn in the road, Mr. Henry Akin lived. 
He was the father of Widow Huldah Curtiss. He had five sons 
and four daughters.' Mr. Henry Aiken was one of the early 
settlers of this town. 'He was a son of Henry Aiken of Scotch 
origin, who came to this country from Londonderry, Ireland, in 
1710; landed at Boston, where he married Isabel, daughter of Rev. 
Mr. Holmes, August, 1720. He located at Middletown, Conn., and at 
the age of eighty came to Norfolk, whither his son had preceded 
him, and died here at the age of 84. Henry Aiken, Jr., married at 
Tori'ingford, Rebecca Miller; they came to Norfolk in 1762, and 
settled on this place mentioned above. Their children were: 

1 Edmund, who married Eunice Pease. He was a lawyer in 
Norfolk, mentioned elsewhere; died here in 1807. 

2 Henry, went to Ohio, where he died childless. 

3 Betsey, married Henry Ashley of Sheffield, Mass. 

4 Ashur, married Rebecca Wilcox; went to Ohio. 

5 Mary, married Darius Phelps. 

6 Huldah, married Solomon Curtiss. 

7 Rebecca, married Ephraim Coy. 

8 Calvin, married Rachel Murray; went to Ohio. 

9 Lemuel, married Sarah Thompson; lived in Norfolk. 

Roys gives this incident in Mr. Aiken's life:— 'Mr. Henry Aikens 
came from Torrington and purchased a farm westerly from the 
meeting-house, which he occupied through life. Soon after fixing 



532 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

his residence here tie left liis family one pleasant winter morning, 
taliing bis gun, hoping to find some deer in his ramble. He strolled 
on in a southerly direction, probably west of Tobey's pond, but not 
in sight of it. In the after part of the day it became cloudy, the 
sun was hidden, and it began to snow. He thought best to be 
on his return home; he attempted, but soon found that he was 
wandering. His out-bound traclis were covered with snow. With- 
out a compass or anything to guide him, he could perceive by oft- 
recurring objects that he was retracing his recent steps. He was 
alarmed, believing that he had not gained a rod towards home. 
The cold increased, darkness, and no relief from moon or stars 
came rapidly on. He concluded that he must spend the night 
in this wilderness, far from relief, and how far from home he knew 
not. He perceived that his feet were numb, but had felt no pain 
in them. He came to a convenient place for kindling a fire, and 
finding dry combustible in plenty, which he gathered, and antici- 
pated the comfort of a warm fireside, and the cheering blaze to 
disperse the gloom and darkness which enveloped him. What was 
his astonishment when about to strike fire from his fiint— his fiiut 
was lost. By some mishap it was torn from his gun-lock and he 
had no spare one. Dreary indeed was his situation and comfort- 
less his circumstances. He retained his reasoning faculties, and 
knew that if he attempted to seek a resting place it would be fatal. 
Death by freezing must be the result. He began walking from a 
tree near him to one about forty feet distant, back and forth, until 
he made a firm and solid path. In this exercise he spent a long 
winter night. When morning came he attempted again to find his 
way home, but, as is generally the case in such circumstances, he 
wandered still farther from home. He kept in motion, fearing to 
rest. His route seemed to be west of the Tibbals mountain, and 
southerly, until he came to the place afterwards occupied by a Mr. 
Balcom, south of Mr. Edmund Brown's present habitation, where 
he was found the next day towards night by his friends and neigh- 
bors, who had been in pursuit of him from nine o'clock the evening 
before. It seems he was still able to stand erect and walk. He 
was helped home and arrived that evening, to the joy of himself 
and family. His feet were found badly frozen, and when, after a 
considerable length of time and much suffering they were healed, 
they were very much scarred and misshapen, but served him in 
future life, and enabled him to cultivate his farm, bring up a large 
family and accumulate a good property.' 

'On east from Mr. Aiken's toward the grist-mill, Mr. Reuben 
Munger lived, who is mentioned elsewhere. He had five sons 
and three daughters. Some of them went to Termont and some 
to Ohio. Two of the daughters married and lived here.' This 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 533 

place was known as Solomon Curtiss's farm half a century ago, 
and later Deacon Jonathan Kilbourn for some years lived there, 
and in recent years Edward Gaylord, and his son, Edward Jun., 
have owned and occupied the farm. Near the house is a great point 
for snow to drift in, caused by the natural downward slope of the 
land toward the northwest to Blackberry river, and the wind 
rushing up from the river. Some interesting photographs of the 
snow-drifts there, taken at the time of the 'great blizzard of March, 
1888,' are preserved. 

Roys gives the following account of a snowy time at this 
place:— 'To give an idea of the immense bulk of snow which fell 
in this elevated situation in some of our early winters, I will relate 
the following incident: Mr. Reuben Munger, then living near where 
Solomon Curtiss now lives, built him a barn with a cowhouse at 
each end, forming a large square yard open to the south. A 
heavy snow-storm came on, which with the help of the north-west 
wind, which took the reins after it ceased falling, filled this space, 
and, rising with a gradual ascent until it reached the ridge of the 
barn. A strong crust formed on the surface. Mr. Munger arose on 
a fine morning, went out to feed his cattle, and the strange idea 
came into his mind to feed his yearlings on the roof of the barn. 
He took an armful of hay and led several of his yearlings, where 
he fed them on the very ridge, from which elevation they de- 
scended in safety.' 

Among Dr. Eldridge's manuscripts is the following, written 
for him by Capt. Auren Tibbals: "In memory of Deacon Joseph 
Tibbals of Middletown, who, having faithfully served his genera- 
tion according to the will of God, fell on sleep the 30th of October, 
A. D. 1774, in the 88th year of his age. Thomas, his son, was born 
1722. and was married to Rachel Dowd, 1748. Left Middlefield 
for Norfolk, 1763, and purchased a farm of Elisha Benedict, for 
four hundred pounds, about half a mile south of the public green, 
on the Litchfield road; it being the farm now owned and occupied 
by his grandson, Stephen Tibbals. He had four sons and one 
daughter. Their names were: 

Samuel, who married Hannah Ives; 

Thomas, who married Elue Parker; 

Noah, who married Jemina Kellogg; 

Amos, who married Lucy Wright; 

Rachel, who married Allen Pease. 

He was a thorough and enterprising farmer, and, with his 
three oldest sons, added lots to lots and acres to acres, until they 
had accumulated almost 800 acres, on which they settled wfEh 
their families. He was at one time the greatest tax-payer in the 
town, and some years wintered forty head of horned cattle; and 
one day butchered thirty fat hogs. 



534 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

His son, Samuel, served as Captain in the Commissary Depart- 
ment, fifteen months in the Revolutionary War. Thomas Jr. 
was in the service of his country almost four years, and was a 
Continental Drum Major. He drew a pension under act of Con- 
gress of March 18, 1818; and his wife Elue was also a pensioner 
under act of Congress of July 7, 1837, until her death in 1843. 
Thomas Sr., spent a number of the last years of his life with his 
son, Thomas Jr., and died at his house, January, 1810, in the 88th 
year of his age. Rachel, his wife, died June, 1805." 

Why did not some member of the other old families think to 
write a brief family history, like this of Capt. Auren Tibbals, and 
place it where it would be preserved? Of many of the old families 
who once lived in this town, some of whom were for years prom- 
inent, influential citizens doubtless, their descendants are all gone. 
not a word or a trace remains or is to be found, outside of some 
purchase or conveyance of land, admission as a voter or as a church 
member, possibly. Who will accept the suggestion today, and 
leave at least a brief family sketch for the historian of the year 
2000? 

Mr. Thomas Tibbals Sen., who lived upon the place where is 
now the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Henry H. Bridgman, at the time 
when it was said there was not a clock or a watch in the town, 
was the owner of a sun-dial, with which he kept the time of day 
when the sun shone, and on cloudy days, especially on cloudy Sab- 
bath-days, he kept the time quite accurately with his hour-glass, 
setting the instrument going at or near the time of sun-rise, by 
the Almanac, and watching it carefully until it was time to go 
to meeting. As Mr. Tibbals passed Rev. Mr. Robbins' home on his 
way to meeting, Mr. Robbins watched for his 'time-piece,' and 
as he saw him passing, the word went through the house, T^lr. 
Tibbals is coming; it is time for us to go to meeting.' 

Thomas Tibbals, Jun., is mentioned at length among the 
soldiers of the Revolution. He was Drum Major in the army, and 
Mr. Robbins, in his 'diary,' mentions him as making a pulpit "for 
him by piling up their drums, when the soldiers were drawn up for 
religious service. Many of the above interesting facts were told 
the writer by Mrs. Sheldon Tibbals, in July, 1900. 

Amos Tibbals, one of the sons of Thomas Tibbals Sen., settled 
in Sharon. One of his daughters married Milo Barnum, and they 
were the parents of the Hon. William H. Barnum, a prominent 
niahufacturer of iron in Salisbury, and for many years one of the 
United States Senators from this State. 

Returning to Deacon Mars' notes of the old settlers and their 
location. It must be remembered that not until many years later 
than the time of which he writes, was there any road south from 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 535 

'Treat corner' to the Bnrr place, the residence now of Mr. Amos 
Collar. The first north and south road west from the old Goshen 
road was the continuation of the road that passed the grist-mill, 
the Munger place mentioned above, turned at a right angle south 
at the Aiken place, then by the Thomas Curtiss' place south of 
the hill, by the present golf grounds, a short distance east from 
Tobey Pond. 

Deacon Mars says in the first house up the hill south from the 
Curtiss place, on what was Elmore Caufield's farm at one time, 
now Prof. Pupin's grounds, 'Mr. Noah Tibbals lived, but moved 
west. Next on south was Capt. Samuel Tibbals, brother of Noah. 
He had two sons and three daughters, all of whom went west, 
except one daughter, who married Nathaniel Bobbins, son of Rev. 
Mr. Robbins. The next house was several rods ofE from the road, 
west. Mr. Thomas Tibbals, brother of the two just mentioned, 
and the last years of his life, their father, Thomas Tibbals, Sen., 
lived there.' The old gentleman was grandfather of Captain Auren 
Tibbals, who spent his life in this town, never married, and died 
here on his ninety-first birthday, April 7, 1882. Stephen, another 
son of Thomas Tibbals, spent his life in this town, as did Stephen's 
sons, Harvey Stillman Tibbals, Thomas Tibbals, and, part of his 
life, Richard Tibbals. Dr. Elbert Plumb Tibbals, a native of this 
town, who studied medicine here, and for many years has been 
a physician and druggist at Port Huron, Michigan, was a son of 
Sheldon Tibbals, who was a brother of Auren Tibbals. These 
two brothers carried on the old farm for some years, which they 
sold to Erastus Burr in 1849. The Tibbals place just mentioned is 
the farm owned and occupied by Mr. Ralph C. Burr at present. 
The old house referred to stood several rods from the road, south- 
west from the end of the winrow, as that point has been called for 
several generations. The house now occupied by Mr. Ralph Burr 
was built in 1803 by Mr. Thomas Tibbals, whose sei-vice in the 
Revolutionary Army is mentioned elsewhere. 

About half a mile west from the Tibbals house just mentioned, 
Stephen Tibbals had a small house in the wilderness, there being 
no cleared land on the place, when, in 1809, Israel Crissey came 
there to live, having exchanged his farm on Beech Hill in Cole- 
brook for this place. Mr. Israel Crissey spent the remainder of 
his life on this place and died here in 1833. His only son, Benjamin 
Wilmot, was 18 year old when the family moved upon this 
place, and here he spent the larger part of his life, the principal 
burden falling upon him after a few years, of clearing and making 
a productive grass farm from the cold, rocky, sterile wilderness. 
'Not a pound of hay had ever been cut on the place until I cut it,' 
Mr. Crissey often said. When he had lived some thirty-five years 



536 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

on the farm his average annual hay crop was about one hundred 
tons. He bought at different times tracts of the mountain land 
lying west of the original purchase, some of which was finally 
cleared, but the larger part remained heavily timbered until the 
time of the civil war, when woodland was in demand by thfi 
furnace companies in Canaan and Salisbury, to be burned into char- 
coal. The original road from the old Crissey place to Canaan was 
laid out through '•Hotehkissville," or "Snyderville," and on west, 
at some distance north of Crissey pond, until it struck the Canaan 
road. In 1837 Daniel White deeded to Benjamin W. Crissey the 
lot known as "Lot 26, 3d division, 2nd going over," which had 
formerly belonged to Daniel and Cyrus Hotchkiss, and upon which 
they had built a house in which they lived for a time, and in 
which John Snyder afterwards lived. The original road to Canaan 
mountain passed this old house place, which was a half mile or so 
west of the Crissey house. 

The next place mentioned is referred to in Roys' history as 
follows: "Mr. Nathaniel Roys," who was the father of the his- 
torian, "then living near where Silas Burr now resides, was 
going round to where Capt. Auren Tibbals now lives. Turning 
round the end of the winrow so-called, he was met by a bear. It 
soon prepared for an attack. Mr. Roys stood considering whether 
to meet the bear unarmed or trace back his steps. Having come 
out of his shop with his leather apron on, he thought with himself 
he would try that as a weapon of defence. He looked sternly upon 
him, shook his leather apron, and sprang towards him. Bruin 
not used to that mode of attack, settled down from his rampant 
posture and made use of all his legs to assist him in his flight from 
the frowning face and frightful rattle of his antagonist. About 
the time of meeting the bear, or perhaps the winter following, Mr. 
Roys, busily engaged in his shop, and his boys as busily engaged in 
gambols and play about the door-yard, several guns were heard on 
the mountain west of his house. He sprang from his shop and 
joined the boys in looking anxiously up the mountain. Their 
curiosity was soon gratified by seeing three deer rushing down, 
come to a perpendicular ledge west of Mr. Burr's (now) dwelling 
house. They plunged down, almost burying themselves in the 
snow. Soon, however, they recovered, and, the old buck leading 
the way, passed by the house through the meadow, and on to the 
Brown mountain." 

This house of Mr. Roys' stood some twenty rods south of the 
present residence of Mr. Collar, quite near the old barn still stand- 
ing there. 

Mr. Daniel Burr, son of Mr. Ebenezer Burr already mentioned, 
and who married in 1773 Betty Brown, daughter of Titus Brown, 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 537 

one of Norfolk's first settlers and revolutionary soldiers, bought 
this place and settled there for life. They had three sons and 
seven daughters. Lucy married Benjamin Warren who settled in 
Wellington, Ohio. Betsey died at 23, unmarried. Rachel married 
Obadiah Hulburt of Enfield, in this state. Mary married ^ David 
Gaylord, who settled in Western New York. Susannah spent her 
life on her birthplace. She was one of "the salt of the earth," and 
died unmarried, at the age of 7G. Ruby married Anson Norton, 
and spent their lives in this town. 

Daniel Jun., the eldest son, settled in Otsego County, N. Y. 
Ebenezer, a farmer, spent his life in this town. His son Erastus 
and his descendants, one son and three grandsons, are the only 
Burrs remaining in town. Silas spent his life on the old home, 
where he died in 1866, aged 72. Daniel, son of Silas Burr, died 
unmarried in 1867, aged 31. Charles M. settled and still lives in 
Gove County, Kansas. Harriet, Mrs. James Kilburn, lives in 
Lincoln, Nebraska, and Martha, Mrs. Charles Stocking, near there. 
Charles M. Burr's service in the civil war is mentioned. Eunice, 
the youngest of the ten, married Benjamin Crissey, already men- 
tioned. Their eldest son, Warren, lives in Great Barrington, Mass. 
Another son, Deacon Ralph Israel, lives in this town. Their only 
daughter, Olive, married Plumb Brown, and four of their children 
are settled here. Plumb Jr., a physician, is settled in Springfield, 
Mass. 

*Mr. Nathaniel Lee sold his place to Mr. Joshua Moses, and went 
to Vermont.' This place is a short distance east of Esq. Edmund 
Brown's farm, where William Eggleston now lives. 

'Mr. Ammi Cadey lived on this road, a short distance west from 
where it joined the Goshen road. The old house is still standing; 
was the home of Samuel Johnson the last years of his life, and 
has had many occupants. 

A Mr. Canfield at one time carried on a blacksmith's shop that 
stood near where the bank building now stands. 

"Mr. John Dowd lived in a house that stood down the hill 
where the hotel, the Norfolk House, now stands. (1857.) One of 
Mr. Dowd's sons, Elizur, was for many years a merchant here 
and has spent his life here." Another son, William, died here in 
1846, at the age of 37, leaving several children. His son, David 
Lewis Dowd, owned, lived and died on the old Akins farm, west 
from the meeting-house. 

"On the west side of the street, nearly opposite the Dowd 
house, Mr. John Rice lived. He and his family left town." A 
little later Mr. Munson Gaylord owned this place, and sold it to 
Messrs. Samuel and Warren Cone, and in ISIS Mr. Samuel Cone 
sold his interest in the place to his brother, Warren, who lived in 



538 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

this house, and later built the house a little farther north, on the 
corner, as is mentioned elsewhere. 

"The house just north of Dr. Welch's, "the old gambrel-rooled 
house," as it is called, was built for a store. Mr. Ezekiel Foster 
traded there." Auren Roys for a time had his 'apothecary shop' 
in this building, next door to the doctor, before he located on the 
green back of the chui'ch. 

"On the west side of the road as we go to Canaan, at the forks 
of the road, Mr. Earl P. Pease lived. He had a woolen factory 
that stood near where the factory stood that was burnt. He was a 
son of Mr. Nathaniel Pease." 

"On the road north, the Major Shepard house, where Mr. 
Samuel Canfield now lives, was built by Josiah Pettibone, sou of 
Col. Giles Pettibone. This house is north of the bridge on wood- 
creek, or Haystack brook. A house stood near where Mr. Can- 
lield's barn or wood-house is. Mr. Austin, the miller that tended 
the mill, lived here. Just north was the shop where Mr. Nathaniel 
Stevens made hats." 

This old hat-shop was later used as a wagon-shop by David 
and Samuel Vail. There was a dam a little above to furnish 
power, the water being brought down to this shop in a flume. 
About fifty years ago this shop was made into a two-tenement 
dwelling house, and is still used as such, being in pretty good 
condition apparently yet. 

"On the other side of the road where Mr. Samuel Vail lived, 
just north of the Methodist church, was a small house where Mr. 
Stephen Paine lived. He was a cloth dresser." 

Sidney Root carried on this wagon shop for a time; lived in the 
house just mentioned, and died there of brain fever, when but a 
young man. 

THE PETTIBONE FA3IILT. 

Colonel Giles Pettibone was one of the earliest settlers of this 
town, having come here before the incorporation of the town in 
1758. He was a descendant of John Pettibone, who came from 
Wales to America in 1650, was admitted a citizen of Windsor, 
Conn., in 1658, and shortly after settled in Simsbury, and was the 
ancestor of all the Pettibone family in the United States. 

The first town meeting was held at the house of Joshua TMiit- 
ney, December 12, 1758; the second, December 20, 1758, and many 
subsequent meetings were held at Giles Pettibone's house. He was 
a very prominent and active man in all town affairs during almost 
half a century of the town's earliest history. He held repeatedly 
almost every important office in the town, and represented t^e 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 539 

town in the General Assembly of the Colony and State in twenty- 
six sessions, being with William Walter, the representative, at the 
session in October, 1777, when the town was first represented. He 
was a justice of the peace for thirty years, judge of probate 
twenty-eight years, town-treasurer for nearly forty years. 

Col. Pettibone died in 1810, and his son, Giles, Jun., who 
built, in 1794, and liept the hotel on the green, since liuown as the 
Shepard Hotel, died in 1811, aged 51. 

Giles Pettibone, Jun., had but one son, Jonathan Humphrey, 
who kept the hotel after his father's death, was postmaster for many 
years, and died, unmarried, in 1832, at the age of 39. 

The daughters of Giles Pettibone, Jr., were: 

Sarah, who married Michael F. Mills. 

Mary (Polly) married Giles Thompson. 

Louisa, died unmarried, aged 21. 

Julia married Deacon Amos Pettibone. 

Eunice, died unmarried, 1871, aged 81. 

Charlotte married Hiram Mills. 

Susan died unmarried. 

Dasiah Humphrey married Halsey Stevens. 

Sereno, son of Col. Pettibone. graduated at Williams College in. 
the class of 1800, taught school for some years, studied law, settled 
here in his native town; at a celebration July 4, 1801, was the 
orator of the occasion; was eminent as a civil engineer and sur- 
veyor. He died in this town when just in the prime of life, a man 
of fine ability and promise. 

Rufus, son of Col, Pettibone, graduated at Williams College in 
1805; studied law, and, for a time, practiced in Vernon, N. Y. He 
was a man of brilliant talents; went to Missouri; was a member 
of the constsitutional convention of that state at its formation; 
was chief justice of the state, having been appointed by McXair, 
the first governor, and held that office until his early death in 1825. 
Mention is made of him in connection with his brother Levi. 

Levi Pettibone, son of Col. Giles Pettibone, was born in this 
town December 17, 1780, and lived to the remarkable age of one 
hundred years, six months and seven days, his death occurring 
June 24, 1881. Mr. Pettibone was about three years old at the time 
of the close of the war of the Revolution. He remembered about 
Shay's rebellion in 1786 and '87, a few men here in his native town 
having had some little part in it, it is said. In the war of 1812 he 
was living in Pittsfield, Mass., and was drafted, but Governor 
Strong of that state denied the authority of the federal govern- 
ment to compel citizens of Massachusetts to fight outside the 
state, and Mr. Pettibone never fell into line, nor drew a pension. 
In 1817, in common with many others, he was attracted to the 



540 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Mississippi valley as a new world opened to energy and enterprise. 
Leaving Pittsfield he went to Vernon, N. Y., where his brother, 
Rufus Pettibone, was engaged in the practice of law, and urged 
him to "pull up stalies and go west." It was agreed that Levi 
should go on to Missouri on a prospecting tour, and return to 
Yernon to report, and, if favorable, the two brothers then should 
migrate to Missouri and make that state their home. Accordingly 
he made the long trip, taking the usual river and land route, 
reached Shawneetown, Illinois, and made the balance of the trip on 
horseback, via Kaskaskia to St. Louis. He returned to his brother 
and it was then decided to leave for St. Louis in the spring. 
Among the friends of Rufus Pettibone then residing in Vernon 
was Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, who determined to accompany the 
Pettibones, and share in the exploration of the geography, geology 
and mineralogy of the new west. 

The usual route was to descend the Allegheny River from 
Clean, N. Y., to Pittsburg. At Olean Mr. Levi .Pettibone made 
ready an 'ark,' as it was called, in which the party were, to 
descend the river. The ark was built of stout planks, having a 
flat bottom; upon this posts were raised and a room for cooking 
and one for sleeping constructed; the whole covered with a flat 
roof. 

Near the front were two long sweeps or oars, used to guide 
the unwieldy craft as it floated down the stream. At night they tied 
up, built a fire on shore, and cooked their food. They reached 
Pittsburg, after a descent of 300 miles, March 28th, 1818. Here 
they separated, the Pettibones pursuing the journey to St. Louis 
by the customary routes. Mr. Schoolcraft reached St. Louis the 
last of July; called on his friends the Pettibones, and spent three 
months in examining the mines in southwest Missouri, and in the 
fall of 1818 and the winter of 1819, in company with Levi Pettibone, 
made the celebrated explox'ation in Missouri beyond the line of 
settlements, to the Ozark mountains. The journey had about it 
much daring and adventure, and in the narrative which School- 
craft afterwards published, he thus refers to his companion, 
Pettibone: "He stood stoutly by me; was a reliable man, who could 
be counted upon in all weathers to do his part willingly." In 
some reminiscences, Mi". Pettibone said his father, Col. Giles 
Pettibone, took part in the Revolutionary war; was present at the 
surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga, and afterwards led scouting 
parties on the neutral grounds and among the Highlands on the 
Hudson. 

To show how plentiful wild game was in Missouri at the time 
of his exploring expedition, he said that not very far from Potosi. 
at the Ashley cave, or Saltpeter caves, one day they saw four 




JUDGE AUGUSTUS PETTIBONE. 



HISTOEY OF NORFOLK. 541 

bears on an oak tree, eating sweet acorns. They saw a flock of 
wild turkeys marcliing towards the cave, and shot one so large 
and fat that the carcass furnished food for three days. One day 
they shot two bears, cutting down a hollow tree in which the 
bear had crawled for shelter; and saw large elk bounding away. 
In this expedition they descended the White River to Batesville, 
in Arkansas; from whence Mr. Pettibone returned to St. Louis, 
then a small outpost, containing a population of 2,500. His brother, 
Rufus Pettibone, established himself in business there upon his 
arrival, and was appointed circuit judge, and afterward chief 
justice of the state, which position he held until his early death in 
1825. During the time that Judge Rufus Pettibone continued in 
office, his brother Levi was circuit clerk of the court. He resided 
for nearly sixty years in Pike County; was for many years county 
treasurer, and held various other offices there. The last five years 
of his life were spent in St. Louis, at the residence of his son-in- 
law. Captain Frank Burnett. His remains were buried at Louis- 
iana, in Pike County, Mo., his old home. 

He retained his powers of mind and body remarkably. He 
was an unusualy fine penman and bookkeeper, and at the age of 
nearly 90 was employed to open a set of books for a bank, and at 
94 years of age kept the books of a shoe store, the time required 
being some four hours daily. His work was a model of neatness 
and care. "He has always been temperate— never having been 
addicted to the use of tobacco or stimulating drinks, except as 
medicine." 

AUGUSTUS PETTIBONE. 

Augustus Pettibone, third son of Colonel Giles Pettibone and 
Desiah Humphrey, his wife, was born in Norfolk, February 19, 
1766. He entered Yale College in 1784, where he studied about two 
years, but did not graduate. In September, 1787, he commenced 
reading law with Dudley Humphrey, Esq., of Norfolk, a practicing 
attorney, and continued with him until the following April, when 
he went to Litchfield and attended Judge Reeve's lectures until 
March, 1790, when he was admitted to the Bar of Litchfield County. 
He settled in his native town of Norfolk in the practice of law, and 
continued in the practice until 1812, when, being in poor health, he 
relinquished the practice, and in that year he was appointed an 
associate judge of the County Court of Litchfield County, and 
held that office until 1816, when he was appointed chief judge of 
the county court, and continued to hold that office until 1831, when 
from impaired health and advancing years he declined holding 
longer any public office. He was a justice of the peace more 
than thirty years. He was Judge of Probate for the District of Nor- 
folk from May, 1807 until 1822. 



542 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

He represented his town in the General Assembly in twenty- 
eight semi-annual sessions, between 1800 and 1825. 

In 1818 he represented the town in the State Convention at 
Hartford, to form a constitution for the State, and was appointed 
one of the committee to draft a constitution for the consideration 
of the convention. He was Senator from the 17th Senatorial Dis- 
trict in 1830 and 1831. 

Such is the record of his public life. Soon after his death a 
townsman wrote of him: "This distinguished legislator and jurist 
died at his residence in Norfolk on the 4th of October, 1847. 
Judge Pettibone was a fine specimen of a class of politicians, states- 
men and gentlemen of an age gone by. There was nothing super- 
ficial in his knowledge, no trickery or decexotion in his political 
career, not a shadow of dishonesty in his dealings with men. 
He was a model of uprightness, benevolence, discretion and un- 
studied eloquence. His loss will long be felt in the community in 
which he lived. 

One of the duties which the living owe the dead is to record 
their virtues, and in A^ery few instances is this duty more meri- 
toriously called for than in this case. Judge Pettibone, for by this 
name he was best known in Litchfield County, was at the time 
of his death the oldest inhabitant of Norfolk who was born in the 
town. His father. Col. Giles Pettibone, was one of the early 
settlers of the town to which he emigrated from Simsbury in Hart- 
ford County, where his ancestors were early settlers. The high 
estimation in which the Pettibone family were held by their fellow- 
citizens, is established by the fact that the father and the son 
were sent to represent the town in the State Legislature nearly fifty 
times; the deceased thirty, including two sessions in the State 
Senate, and the father nearly twenty. 

It has often been a subject of remark that he possessed in a 
pre-eminent degree many of those qualities of which New Eng- 
land is proud. Though a man of wealth and vast acquirements, he 
was the most unostentatious man we have ever known. He was 
approachable to the most humble member of society. In the 
honorable and delicate trust of dispensing justice he gave universal 
satisfaction. When he left the bench it was with the regret of all 
who knew him, and he carried with him the character of a just 
and upright judge. What nobler character can be given to man! 

It has often been regretted by many in this part of the state 
that the deceased was not placed in our national councils in early 
life. If he had been he would have reflected honor on the state. 
He was well constituted to make a fine senatorial speaker— calm, 
grave, dignified. We shall never forget the first time we heard the 
judge speak in public. It was at one of our town meetings. His 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 543 

delivery was peculiarly solemn and dignified, and his sentences 
delivered with as much precision as if they were delivered by a 
professor of rhetoric from some approved author, and this when the 
deceased was well past seventy years. But the judge wanted in 
one- very important trait— ambition. If he had only possessed this 
he might have taken his place beside the first men in the country. 
To do so he was qualified by nature and by education, for he was 
one of the best read men to be found in this part of New England. 
So late as the last year or two of his life he could be found reading 
to a late hour every evening. In his library were many rare and 
valuable works, including most of the English classics, with which 
he was well conversant. But the judge had other qualities besides 
learning and talents to recommend him to consideration in the com- 
munity. He was a man of great public spirit, and this he mani- 
fested in the most noble and disinterested manner. Much of the 
prosperity which is so apparent in the north part of Litchfield 
County is owing to his instrumentality, and it is right that the 
public should know it. Most rich men at his age become very 
distrustful of others, but it was not so with him. Where he had 
confidence he was noble and generous, and those fine qualities were 
only surpassed by his deep and close penetration, which enabled 
him not to misplace his liberality. Few rich men have given the 
use of their names to such an extent to help industrious neighbors 
as Judge Pettibone; and what higher character could be given of 
the community in which he lived than to say that he scarcely ever 
met with a loss by his liberality. Previous to his death he was the 
oldest of the Pettibone stock living, and his departure from among 
them must sever many tender ties. He appeared like the last con- 
necting link between the past and the present generations. Honor to 
the memory of a good and just man. May he rest in peace! R." 

Deacon ]\Iars says: "The next house north from Col. Pettibone's 
was Dr. Ephraim Guiteau, who lived where Captain Augustus 
Phelps, and later his son, Levi Phelps, lived. Dr. Guiteau had one 
son, Philo, who was also a doctor, and one daughter who was 
the wife of Dr. Benjamin Welch." Other mention of Dr. Guiteau 
is made. 

"Mr. Joseph Gaylord, Jun., lived near Dr. Guiteau, on the 
opposite side of the road, where Jedediah Phelps lived, and where 
Col. Horace B. Knapp lived later." This is the place recently pur- 
chased for a summer home by Dr. Thompson of New York. 

"A little farther north, where Capt. Henry Porter spent most 
of his life, and where Mr. Egbert Butler has lived for some years, 
two brothers, Jedediah and Jeremiah Phelps lived. Their father 
came from Simsbury to Norfolk in 1756; settled and lived on the 
corner north of where his sons, just mentioned, built their house. 



544 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Capt. John Phelps was the father also of Capt. Darius Phelps, 
who is mentioned elsewhere, and so was the ancestor of all the 
families of Phelps' who have lived in the town." 

Sarah, daughter of Capt. John Phelps, married Ozias Bingham, 
and after his death she married Nicholas Holt. The sons Jeremiah 
and Jedediah in about 1790 built the house already mentioned, 
which is still the home of Mr. Egbert T. Butler, beautifully located, 
in fine condition, and the summer resting place of a large number 
of city people. 

The brothers together built this house in which they spent 
their lives; their wives cooking at the same great fireplace, which 
had three 'andirons,' spread their separate tables in the same great 
kitchen; each family having a separate work and cheese room, 
and, of course, other rooms. The brothers owned and worked the 
large productive farm in common, there being no division until 
their children were grown, married, and had interests of their 
own. Two of the sons of Jedediah, viz., Capt. Augustus and Esq. 
Jedediah, in a division of the original farm, had their farms a short 
distance south from the old homestead, those places having been 
already mentioned. Kosanna, a daughter of Jedediah Sen., married 
Mr. Calvin Butler, a lawyer, of Plymouth, Conn., and became the 
mother of fourteen children, of whom Mr. Egbert T. Butler already 
mentioned is the sole survivor. He married Jennette Porter, May 1, 
1839, in this same house. Their children were Egbert J. and Har- 
riet R. Mrs. Butler was a most excellent, queenly. Christian 
woman, of rare natural endowments, culture and grace; fitted to 
shine in any position, even that of "the first lady of the land." 
She died universally mourned, November 23, 1862, at the age of 
47, her father, Capt. Henry Porter, having died in September pre- 
vious, and her son having come home from the army to be cared for 
through a severe sickness a few weeks previous to his mother's 
death. 

"Mr. Joseph Gaylord Sen., father of Joseph Jun., Philemon 
and David Gaylord, lived up the hill north from the old Phelps 
homestead." Mi\ David Gaylord had a son, Henry J., who spent 
his life, unmarried, upon the old homestead. Another son, Levi P., 
went west, and now lives in Los Angeles, California. One daughter, 
Celestia, married Sullivan Butler; Julia married Monsieur Victor 
Alvergnat. 

"Mr. Samuel Gaylord lived still farther north, near where his 
son Anson lived for most of his life. His other sons were Samuel 
Jr., Timothy and Chauncey. 

John Heady lived north from Mr. Gaylord's, and still farther 
north Mr. Samuel Knapp, the father of Major Bushnell Knapp, 
and grandfather of Col. Horace B. Knapp." 







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HISTOEY OF NOEFOLK. 545 

"On a road that started near Capt. John Phelps's corner and 
ran northwest towards the College land, Mr. John Smith lived." 
His descendants are numerous and respectable. Chauncey and 
Timothy Gay lord lived in this neighborhood. 

"East from Phelps corner, on the road toward Sandisfield, there 
were three or four families of Holts," mentioned in another place. 

"Captain Michael Mills lived in Loon-meadow, on the place 
where Deacon David Frisbie and his son David lived later, and 
still later Mr. John Nettleton and Frank Jackman." 

Miss Susan L. Mills, early in 1897, in reply to a letter of inquiry 
regarding the Mills family, wrote as follows: "Joseph, son of 
John and Sarah Pettibone Mills, was born in 1694; married Hannah 
Adams. They settled in Simsbury; had fourteen children; ten 
sons and four daughters, all remarkable for their Christian char- 
acter and example. Six of the sons were deacons of churches. 
Four of the sons settled in Norfolk. Of these Deacon Joseph settled 
in the south end district on the place where his son Benoni, and his 
grandson, Daniel, lived later. Deacon Joseph died in 1792. His 
brother, Deacon Samuel, died in this town in 1804. 

Michael, second son of Deacon Joseph and Hannah Adams 
Mills, born in Simsbury, 1728; married Mercy Lawrence; settled in 
the eastern part of Norfolk called Loon-meadow. They had nine 
children. He served in the Revolutionary war; was representative 
to the General Assembly of Connecticut for twelve sessions, from 
1779 to 1791. Capt. Michael Mills died in 1820, aged 90. Three of 
his sons settled in Norfolk, viz., Eden, Lawi'ence and Michael 
Frederick. 

Simeon Mills, a brother of Capt. Michael, settled in Norfolk. He 
suffered great hardship during the Revolutionary war. 

Eden, son of Capt. Michael Mills, married Rosanna Wilcox. 
They had ten children; five sons and five daughters. Their chil- 
dren who settled in Norfolk were Rosanna, who married Luther 
Butler, lived many years and died In the Col. Giles Pettibone 
house in 1888, aged 89 years. Irad, who lived on Beech-flats, in the 
old Guiteau house, which is still standing, the home of Mrs. John 
Nettleton. Irad died Nov. 1864, aged 72. John Milton Mills, died 
April 1860, aged 71, and Susan L. Mills, who was the last person of 
the name in town." (She died May 18, 1897, at the age of 86.) 

"Lawrence Mills, son of Captain Michael, settled in Norfolk, 
married Olive Benedict; their children were Laura, Myron H., 
for a time a merchant here, as mentioned elsewhere; Persia, mar- 
ried Timothy C. Gaylord; Matilda, married George Nettleton, 
Francis B., and Hiram, who was a farmer and a man of some 
prominence in the town; was one of the selectmen of the town for 
several years, and represented the town in the legislature in the 
year 1839, and died in 1881, aged 86. 



546 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

His eldest son, Cliarles H., also a farmer, died of hydrophobia, 
December, 1878, aged 52. His younger son, John Lawrence Mills, 
graduated at Yale College, was a tutor in Yale for some years, 
studied for the ministry, preached for several years and was ap- 
pointed to a professorship in Marietta College, Ohio, where he has 
since resided. 

Michael Frederick, youngest son of Capt. Michael Mills, was 
born in Norfolk March 22, 1776. He studied law and practiced his 
profession in his native town until by age and failing health com- 
pelled to retire. He held nearly every office and position of trust 
within the gift of his fellow townsmen. He represented the town 
in the State Legislature in 1830, 1831 and 1833. He was appointed 
Judge of Probate in 1822 and held that office twenty years, the dis- 
trict then comprising the towns of Norfolk, Colebrook and Win- 
chester. (During Esq. Mills' term of office Winchester and Cole- 
brook were made by the Legislature the district of Winchester, in 
1838.) In 1812 he was appointed justice of the peace, and officiated 
in that capacity until he was seventy years of age. In 1813 he was 
appointed sole agent for the church and society to build the meet- 
ing-house, which business he transacted to the entire satisfaction 
of all concerned, as mentioned in another place. In 1804, under 
President Jefferson's administration, a post-office was established 
in Norfolk, and Esq. Mills was appointed the first postmaster. At 
that time the mail was received only twice a week in Norfollv, and 
the only papers taken here were the Connecticut Courant and 
Litchfield Monitor." 

In the "History of Litchfield County Bench and Bar," it is said: 
"Mr. Mills never figured conspicuously as an advocate in fhe 
higher courts, but was regarded by the ablest lawyers as one of the 
best men in the state to prepare a case. Most people know how 
very liable members of the legal profession are to make enemies in 
discharging the duties of their calling, but in this Esq. Mills was 
peculiarly fortunate. Being of a happy and generous disposition, 
whatever he said or did never partook of ill will or malignity." 
"He married Sarah Pettibone, grand-daughter of Col. Giles Petti- 
bone. One son, Frederick Ira, graduated at Yale College, 1827; was 
a young man of great promise, and died at the age of 23, soon after 
completing his law studies. His younger son, Michael G. Mills, 
was for a time Judge of Probate, and died December, 1846, aged 
33. His daughters, Margaret, who married John A. Shepard, and 
Sarah, who married .John K. Shepard, spent their lives in this town. 
Esq. Michael F. Mills died August 2, 1857, aged 81." 

"On the road leading from the Loon meadow road toward Pond- 
town Deacon Jared Butler lived." Mr. Butler, who married Elisa- 
beth Dorchester, was the sixth man elected to the office of Deacon, 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 547 

after the organization of the Congregational Church here. He died 
in 1S22, aged 76. He had four sons, Nathaniel, Elisaph, Jared and 
Luther. His daughter Elizabeth married Mr. Allen Holt, and lived 
in this town. His daughter Mary married David Sexton. He died 
July, 1854, aged SO. She died August, 1851, aged 71. They spent 
their lives, most excellent Christian people, on the farm occupied 
after their death by Samuel Caufleld, who married their daughter, 
Rebecca Sexton. Mr. Caufleld sold the place a number of years 
after Mr. Sexton's death to Mr. Richard Curtiss, who now lives 
there. 

Elisaph Butler, son of Deacon Jared, had two sous, Levi and 
Jared. He died March, 1843, aged 75. 

Nathaniel Butler, son of Deacon Jared, had two sons, Uri and 
Edwin, and two daughters, Miriam and Matilda. He died April, 
1841, aged GO. 

Uri and Edwin Butler were well known and highly respected 
citizens of Norfolli until middle life, when they removed from town. 
Their sister, Miriam, married a Mr. Pierce of Canaan. Matilda 
married Mr. Witherell. 

Jared Butler, son of Deacon Jared, had seven sons and two 
daughters. The sons Avere Timothy, Almon, Albert, Miriman, Wil- 
liam, Sullivan and Styles; the daughters were Laura and Celia. 
These all emigrated from town. William married Harriet Merwin, 
lived in town several years and then went west. 

Sullivan mari'ied Celestia, daughter of David Gaylord, spent 
the larger part of his life in town, and now lives in East Canaan. 

Luther, son of Deacon Jared Butler, married Rosanna Mills, 
was a highly respected citizen of this town, owned and died in the 
Col. Giles Pettibone house, September, 1855, aged 69. His daugh- 
ter Rosanna married Mr. Edward Hubbard of Salisbui'y. Their 
daughters, Mrs. Lyman Johnson and Mrs. Silas Palmer, are resi- 
dents of this town. Ellen, daughter of Luther Butler, married Mr. 
George Dodge of Salisbury. 

Nathaniel Stevens, was fifth in descent from John Stevens, w'ho 
came from County Kent, England, and settled in Guilford, Conn., 
about 1G40. The family afterward removed to Killingworth, now 
Clinton, where representatives are now living. He was born at 
Clinton in 1739, and removed to Norfollv early in its history. He 
was by occupation a clothier and hatter. He built a house in 1784, 
still owned by his descendants. He was noted for his piety, and 
was a man of influence in the community; represented the town at 
eighteen sessions of the Legislature and died in 1808. 

In spealiing of the removal of this family, with others, the his- 
torian says: "They continue to be respectable in Church and State 
there." 



548 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Nathaniel Stevens, Jr., second son of Nathaniel Stevens, was 
born in 1763. He remainecl at the homestead in Norfolk and suc- 
ceeded his father in the business of hatter. He took a prominent 
part in public affairs, was a major of militia, and represented the 
town at sixteen sessions of the Legislature. He died in 1825. He 
had four sons and three daughters. 

Halsey Stevens, youngest son of Nathaniel Stevens, Jr., was 
born in 1803. He succeeded his father in business. He married 
Dasiah Humphrey, youngest daughter of Giles Pettibone, Jr., and 
died in 1837. 

Jonathan H. Pettibone, eldest son of Halsey Stevens, was born 
in 1830. He studied medicine under Dr. Wm. W. Welch, and gradu- 
ated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, in 1852. 
He served a term in Bellevue Hospital, and made several trips to 
Europe as surgeon on board ship. In 1855, after the death of Dr. 
Erasmus Hugins, he became associated with Dr. Welch in practice 
at Norfolk. In 1861 he was appointed 1st Asst. Surgeon 4th C. V., 
afterwards the 1st Conn. Heavy Artillery. He experienced the 
fortunes of war during McClellan's Peninsular Campaign. He re- 
signed his commission on account of his own ill health and that 
of near relatives. He continued the practice of his profession at 
Norfolk till 1885, when he died very suddenly at the age of 55 
years. 

Mr. Hezekiah Butler lived next to Mr. Stevens. He was a shoe- 
maker. One of his sons, Oliver B. Butler, was a shoemaker, built 
a shop and worked in it for several years. It was the house in 
which Mrs. Bilhah Freedom died." 

"Mr. Joseph Smith lived in a house north of Mr. John K. Shep- 
ard, in West Norfolk. 

On the west side of the brook Mr. John Turner lived. He was 
a tanner and currier of leather." This seems to have been near 
where Mr. Levi Shepard built his tannery later. 

"In the district that was called 'Paug,' on the road that ran 
south from the Maltbie place, which was on the old turnpike, a 
man named Blakeley lived, half a mile or so south." Blakeley pond 
doubtless received its name from this man. 

"Mr. Roswell Grant lived near where Mr. Richard Beckley and 
his son, William Beckley, lived. His brother, Joel Grant, lived on 
the opposite side of the street. He was killed by the fall of a well- 
sweep in his own yard "in the memorable storm of 1796." The 
house was burnt many years later." 

Esq. Joseph Riggs left a memorandum, as follows:— "Timothy 
Gaylord lived near Mr. Jud's; came to town 1768; Gaylord built 
his house 3 or 4 years after." (This Judd house was the first house 
south of the Methodist church.) "A. D. 1768, Miles Riggs came to 



[HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 549 

Norfolk and Justus Gaylord lived at the old house near or on the 
ground where Mr. Akins lives; house now stands." (Miles Riggs 
was the father of Esq. Joseph; he died 1S3G, aged 88. The house 
"where Mrs. Akins lives" was the house still standing opposite the 
Doctor Welch house, which house Mr. Lemuel Akins owned, and 
his family occupied for several years after his death in 1831.) 
"Miles Riggs thinks he had been told that Samuel Gaylord, the 
father of Justus Gaylord, had lived in a house a little west of the 
highway, near the grist-mill bridge. Thinks the Watsons bought 
said Justus Gay lord's property, and John and Titus Watson built 
the Akins house and sold out some time after to E. Phelps." 

In an extended interview most fortunately had with Mr. Nor- 
man Riggs, a week only before his death, in March, 1900, the 
writer learned many things of interest concerning the old settlers 
and former residents in the South End district, where Mr. Riggs 
was born and where he spent the eighty-four years of his life. 

I will follow somewhat in the order taken by Mr. Riggs. Two 
sous of Asahel Humphrey of Goshen settled on the Winchester 
road in the extreme south part of the town. In the time of the 
Revolutionary war the whole family were said to be tory sympa- 
thizers, and on that account it was said they settled in that remote 
part of the town. Levi Humphrey lived near the line between 
Norfolk and Winchester. His son, Timothy, settled in Winchester, 
near his old home. His son Lloyd and daughter Nancy never mar- 
ried, and spent their lives on their native place. Lloyd at one time 
was said to have been well off financially, but lost his property and 
died penniless. James, the other sou of Levi, owned for some 
years a large farm near Grantville, which he sold to Col. Willis 
Griswold, later known as the Beckley farm, and afterward he kept 
a hotel in Winsted. 

Malachi, the other son of Asahel Humphrey, lived on the farm 
next north of his brother Levi. He was a man vigorous of mind 
and body, of about 225 lbs. weight, a good farmer, a shrewd busi- 
ness man, in good circumstances, a good citizen, an expert at 
stone-work, and somewhat of a joker. He built a porch over his 
front door, and his family physician. Dr. Whitmore, said of it: 
"Why, Uncle Pal, as he was familiarly called, I shall never dare 
go under that thing." Mr. Humphi'ey replied: "Then I shall build 
one just like it over my hatchway door, and see if I can't keep 
you out of my cellar." His sous were Horace, Joel, Carlton, Loyal, 
Chester and George. Horace remained on the old farm, engaged in 
nursery business, raising pears, horse-radish, mulberry trees, etc. 
Almira, the daughter of Malachi Humphrey, married James Stan- 
nard. and was the mother of Appleton and Malachi Stannard. 

James Stannard lived farther north, on what is still the Stannard 



550 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

farm. He died suddenly in 1827, of lieart disease, at the age of 39 
years. His sou, Appleton, spent bis life on the old homestead, an 
excellent citizen and a good farmer. His son Obed succeeded his 
father on the farm. 

A man named Mason built the first house on this place, and 
sold to James Stannard. 

The first settler on the Riggs farm, as it has been liuowu during 
the entire history of the town, was a Mr. Roberts, who "built a 
log house under the hill," where he lived a few years. Miles Riggs 
came from near Danbury and bought part of this farm in 1771. 
He was a carpenter; built some .houses in Canaan and some of the 
old houses in Norfolk. He married first Patty Bull; they had three 
children. He served in the Revolutionary army, as the record else- 
where will show. As he reached home at one time from the army 
he found two of his children lying dead in the house, and his wife 
died before the next morning of "camp-distemper." His surviving 
child. Miles, settled in Canada and lived to be nearly ninety yeai's 
old. 

His second wife was Abigail, daughter of Amasa Cowles, and 
widow of Eden Mills. The children of this second marriage were 
Joseph, Eden and Lewis, and a daughter, Delina, who married 
a Mr. Harvey, lived and died in Texas. 

Miles Riggs died in his old home Sept. 20, 1836, aged 88 years. 
His son Eden, it has been said, succeeded Owen Brown, on part of 
the Stannard farm, and for some years carried on tanning and 
shoemaking there, and later bought a farm near South Norfolk, 
which was originally owned by Oliver Burr. He was an indus- 
trious, successful farmer, accumulated a good property, was a well- 
informed, intelligent man, and a most exemplary citizen. He rep- 
resented the town in the Legislature in 1844. He had three sous, 
Hiram Harman, Lewis, who was a physician, and Miles. Harman, 
as he was called, and Miles, both spent their lives on the old home- 
stead. Were excellent farmers and business men, and most worthy 
Christian men and citizens. 

Lewis Riggs (son of Miles Riggs) was a physician, an able, 
educated man; settled in the state of New York, at Homer, and 
represented his district in Congress at one time. 

Joseph, the eldest son of Miles Riggs by his second wife, spent 
his life on the old farm. He was a well educated and a well in- 
formed man, was a skillful surveyor, did a vast amount of survey- 
ing in this and the adjoining towns; was for some years the county 
surveyor; was for many years a justice of the peace and transacted 
much business, such as drawing wills, deeds and the like. A great 
number of papers in his handwriting, and the minutes of surveys 
of lands, laying out and altering highways, etc., which he made 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 551 

are still to be found. He was the surveyor when a large number 
of the alterations of the "Greenwoods Turnpike" were made. 

Esq. Riggs, as he was called by everybody, married Annis 
Clark of Burlington, Conn. Their children were George, who set- 
tled in Wisconsin; Chauncey, who spent his life in Torrington, 
Connecticut; twin daughters, Mary, who married Frederick Bron- 
son, and spent her life in East Canaan, and Maria, who married 
Luman Foot, son of Pliny Foot of this town, and whose home was 
also in Bast Canaan, where she died. 

Joseph Riggs, with his father, built the house which is still 
standing in good condition on the Riggs farm, in 181G. In June of 
that year, on the day of the total eclipse of the sun, he went to 
Torrington for a load of brick. As the eclipse was nearing totality 
he met an acquaintance, Mr. Hayden, who was in great consterna- 
tion, as he said: "The day of judgment has surely come." Mr. 
Riggs, who understood about the eclipse, assured his terrified friend 
that the darkness was caused by the moon crossing the sun's track, 
and that all danger would soon be past, and added: "But the day 
of judgment is coming." 

Norman, the third son of .Joseph Riggs, was born March 10th, 
1816; spent his life on the old Riggs homestead, and died there 
March 26, 1900. He was an unusually intelligent, well-informed 
man, with whom, to the close of his life, it was a pleasure to con- 
verse regarding occurrences in this town, which he remembered 
back more than three-quarters of a century, and many most inter- 
esting facts that he heard In early life from his grandfather and 
other early settlers of this town. He held at various times the 
office of selectman and other town offices, and positions of trust 
and responsibility, and was through life a respected and esteemed 
citizen. He was not successful in accumulating or i-etaining prop- 
erty, and in the last years of his life was said to be in straightened 
circumstances. He was a man of wide general information; read 
and thought much, and in the last interview said to the writer: 
"My best thoughts have always come to me in the early morning, 
when just awakened, refreshed by sleep." 

Captain Hosea Wilcox, whose service in the Revolutionary war 
is mentioned elsewhere, lived north from the Riggs place, toward 
the Stannard farm. His house was across the road from Deacon 
Edward Gay lord's. In that Interview, Mr. Riggs said: "You come 
down some pleasant day after the ground is settled and I will go 
with you and show you where all those old houses stood";— but he 
did not live to do it. 

Sterling Miles lived for a time in a small house north from the 
Riggs place, the house standing on the east side of the road. 

A Mr. Goff, a tanner and shoemaker, moved this Mills house a 



552 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

little distance north from tlie Stannard corner, and used it for a 
bark-house. He had a small tannery on the south-east side of the 
road, where Mr. Stannard now has a small pond, his house being 
on the opposite side of the road. 

Owen Brown, the father of John Brown, who was the "Hero of 
Harper's Ferry," in December, 1859, bought out Mr. Goff about 
1795, and carried on tanning and shoe-making there for about four 
years, when he sold out and moved to Torrington. Josiah Board- 
man bought out Mr. Brown, and Mr. Eden Riggs occupied the place 
some years later, it is said. 

Owen Bi'own, who was born in West Simsbury, February, 1771, 
married in March, 1793, Ruth, daughter of Rev. Gideon Mills, in 
his autobiography says: "In the fall of 1789 I went to Norfolk and 
worked at shoemaking all winter, mostly around at houses for 
families. I returned to Simsbury, afterward called Canton Center, 
where I lived until about two years after I was married, when I 
went to Norfolk, bought a small farm with a house and barn on it. 
Found there friends in need and friends indeed; set up shoemaking 
and tanning, and did a small, good business. My first child, 
Salmon, was born in Canton, June, 1794, and died in Norfolk, Feb- 
ruary, 1796. My daughter Anna was boi'n in Norfolk, July 5, 1798. 
I sold my place in Norfolk in February, 1799, and moved to Torring- 
ton, where my son John was born May 9, 1800. In 1804 I made my 
first journey to Ohio; purchased land at Hudson, Ohio; returned to 
Connecticut in the fall. June 9, 1805, I started with my family 
with an ox team for Ohio, and arrived in Hudson, Ohio July 27th." 
After he became famous it was said by some natives of Norfolk 
that they played with John Brown as a school boy in South End 
district, which was clearly a mistake. 

Captain Joseph Case, the father of Mrs. Solomon Cowles, built 
the house, which is still standing, on what was long known as the 
Ferry farm, and sold out to Captain Thomas Ferry, and went 
west. Mrs. Ferry, probably the mother of Thomas Ferry, died in 
1810 at the great age of 101 years. Capt. Ferry sold out to Levi 
"Wright and Hiram McNeil. Later the farm was owned by S. & L. 
Hurlbut of Winchester. 

The first deatli in the town recorded in Dr. Roys' list was 
Samuel Cowles, who died in 1762. 

Joseph Cowles was one of the early settlers in the South End 
district. He built an eight square house, twenty feet in diameter, 
on the site where his son Ebenezer, and his grandson, Moses Cowles, 
spent their lives also. Mr. Miles Riggs helped to build this house. 
Moses Cowles and his son-in-law, William C. Phelps, pulled down 
this old house about 1835, and built the house now occupied by Ed- 
ward Canfield. Mr. Joseph Cowles, when an old man, in walking to 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 553 

meeting, fell on the ice on the old Goshen road, on what was then 
the Tibbals place, and his death resulted from injuries received in 
this fall, in 1782. His son Ebenezer succeeded him on the old 
homestead, and died there in 1827, at the age of 78 years. 

Solomon, son of Ebenezer Cowles (an e having been added to 
the name in this generation), lived a short distance south of the 
old homestead, where he built a good house and other buildings, 
and had a fine farm, in an excellent state of cultivation. Many of 
the massive stone walls standing on the farm in good order today 
are monuments of his energy and enterprise. He was one of the 
most thorough and successful farmers of his day; a good citizen, a 
very positive character. He was the man who placed the round 
horse-block near the present stone chapel, bringing it up from the 
oil-mill on Blackberry river, as mentioned elsewhere. He was at 
first strongly opposed to fencing the green and planting it to trees. 
He married Keturah, daughter of Capt. Joseph Case. She was a 
most excellent, devoted Christian woman. She died October 4, 
1869, aged 84. He had four sons, "William, Loyal, James M. and 
Grovenor. The house which he built and occupied was burned a 
few years since, and the farm seems to have been almost aban- 
doned. He died April 7, 1858, aged 79, and his son William, who 
a short time before had returned to live with his father, died the 
23d of the same month, at the age of 43. 

James M. Cowles when a young man bought of Jesse Malfbie 
the farm on the Goshen road in the south part of the town, where 
he spent his life and where he died in December, 1871, at the age 
of 64. This farm was, earlier in the history of the town, owned 
by Daniel Pettibone, who for some years kept a tavern there, 
when the New Haven and Albany turnpike was quite a thorough- 
fare. Mr. Cowles was an energetic, thorough farmer, who had his 
farm in a fine state of cultivation, and in 1843 built a very nice 
farmhouse for those days. He was a prominent man in town 
affairs. "Was first selectman in 1844, and the same year, with 
William Lawrence, represented the town in the Legislature. He 
was a deacon of the Congregational Church several years, which 
position he held at the time of his death. He married a daughter 
of Mr. Amos Baldwin. His three sons, Joseph, Loyal and William, 
are all residents of the town, "William occupying the homestead. 
His daughter Louise has for more than thirty years been a teacher 
in Mt. Holyoke Female Seminary. 

Mr. Moses Cowles spent most of his life on the old Cowles 
homestead. He was an excellent citizen, but had not the strength, 
vitality and enterprise of his brother. He enjoyed life, took things 
rather easy, was an inveterate smoker and fond of telling stories. 
His brother, Solomon, was sometimes annoyed at some of his easy 



554 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

ways, and once said in his presence: "I'm going to have a pound 
built to shut Mose up in, for he comes around and hinders my men 
so, forever telling them stories." This 'pound' never was built. Mr. 
Cowles married Hannah Betts, sister of Mrs. Nathan Green and 
half-sister of Mr. David Sexton. She was an excellent Christian 
woman. It was said she would not let her husband smolie when 
they were riding together. They had two daughters, Parna, who 
married Mr. >Yilliam C. Phelps, now living in Winsted, and Abbie, 
who married Joel Grant. 

Mr. and Mrs. Cowles spent their last years and died in Winsted. 

Captain Asahel Case, one of the early settlers, built the house 
on the farm next north from Moses Cowles'. He had thirteen 
ciiildren. A man who once spent a night at his house said that in 
the morning Mr. Case went to the chamber stairs, called out all the 
names found in the Bible, and added, "and all the rest of you get 
up." He died in 1809. 

His son, Captain Aaron Case, spent his life on the old home- 
stead. His first wife took by mistake a dose of saltpetre instead 
of Epsom salts, as she supposed it to be, and died from the effects 
of it in a few hours. Captain Case was a resolute, eccentric kind 
of a man. Col. Phelps, a brother of his mother, was drilling a 
company of militia in which Captain Aaron did not "toe the mark" 
to suit him, and said to him, "I'll drill all the Case blood out of 
you." The retort was, "Then I shall be a 'blank' fool too, like our 
Colonel." Captain Aaron, as he was called, was taking home a 
load of potatoes in an ox cart. He always kept two or three rods 
ahead of his oxen. Going up a long hill the tail-board of the cart 
got loose, and his potatoes rolled out and scattered from the foot 
of the hill to the top. When he reached home and found his cart 
empty, doubtless 'the English language was inadequate to express 
his feelings.' 

Time and space forbid telling of his once driving a pig some two 
miles without discovering that he had taken the wrong pig out of 
his pen. Captain Aaron Case died in 1S42, aged 70. 

His son, Hiram, succeeded him on the old homestead. He 
worked when a yoimg man grinding scythes in a scythe shop, and 
died of "grinder's consumption" in March, 1856, aged 44. 

Dea. Aaron, the youngest son of Captain Aaron, was for many 
years a somewhat prominent man in Winsted, where he died about 
January 1, 1900. 

Captain Asahel Case, Jun., an older brother of Captain Aaron, 
spent his life on a farm near Grantville. Mr. James Swift, a life- 
long resident of this town, married one of his daughters. Mr. 
Philo Smith married another daughter, and succeeded Captain Case 
on this farm, where he spent his life and died in 1877, at the age 




FIVE NORTON GENERATIONS. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 555 

of 83; and he in turn is succeded by his son Obadiah, who still lives 
on the farm at the age of 80; and his son Arthur is following in the 
steps of the three generations of ancestors, with the next generation 
pressing on after him; all excellent citizens, thrifty farmers, as the 
farm bears witness, and all the generations regular church-going, 
Christian people. Mr. Obadiah Smith told the writer that under 
a certain chestnut tree on his farm, he, with his mother, his grand- 
father Case, his son and his grandchildren, five generations, he has 
gathered chestnuts. A rare record. Capt. Asahel Case, Jun., died 
in 1840, at the age of 84. 

Mr. Joseph Mills was an early settler of the town, living on 
the farm north from the old Case homestead. He was the third 
man elected deacon of the church here in the early days of its 
history, which office he held until his death in 1792. His son. Rev. 
Joseph Mills, was settled as pastor of the church in Becket, Mass. 
Another son, Roger Mills, lived in New Hartford. His sons, Con- 
stantine and Benoni, settled in this town, the latter living on the 
farm of his father. Daniel S., son of Benoni Mills, succeeded his 
father on the old homestead, and married a daughter of Gip Smith, 
a Mormon, of Canaan. At one time when Mrs. Mills was sick, a 
Mormon missionary came to their house, claiming to have power 
to heal the sick, and he cured Mrs. Mills so that she rose from her 
sick bed and prepared dinner for the family, but within a few hours 
she was again very sick. In the spring of 18.58 Daniel Mills and 
his family sold out and went to California, and a few years ago he 
Y>-as living at San Jose Mission, Cal., wirh his son Smith, a Mor- 
mon, and his daughter, Mary Ann Mills. 

Stephen Norton, an early settler of the town, built a large 
house at the corner of the Winchester and Winsted roads, a short 
distance south of the cemetery, in the South End district, where 
for many years he kept a tavern, the road passing there being at 
the time quite a thoroughfare. As is mentioned elsewhere, he 
liuilt and for a time carried on a grist-mill, on a small stream that 
runs not far south of this place. He was born at Durham, Ct, in 
1740; was the eldest son of .Jonathan Norton, who was born at Say- 
brook, Ct., February 18, 1712, and died at Norfolk, October 27, 1801, 
aged 89. His wife, Ruth, died at Norfolk, Jan. 15, 1809. Jonathan 
was the eldest son of John Norton, who was born at Saybrook, 
October 3, 1686, and died at Diu-ham, December, 1768. John was 
the youngest son of Thomas, born in England 1626. Thomas was 
son of Thomas, born in England 1588. Came to America, settled 
in Guilford about 1639; died at Guilford 1648. 

Stephen Norton married Experience, daughter of Dea. Edward 
Gaylord of Norfolk, in 1762, and died in Norfolk September 11, 
1826, aged 86. His wife died September, 1825, aged 80. They had 



556 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

eight sons and one daughter, the latter, Clarissa, married Dr. Ben- 
jamin F. Calhoun of Norfolk. Their son Stephen, born March, 
1765, married Hannah Coy. Spent their lives on a farm on the 
Goshen road toward South Norfolk, where he died in 1843, aged 
77. His wife died May, 1848, aged 75. They had fifteen children; 
three of these died in infancy; eleven of them had families. Their 
eldest child, Anson, married Ruby Burr, and spent their lives in 
this town. Their son, William, married Rebecca, daughter of Wil- 
cox Phelps of this town, and spent their lives on a farm in the Loon 
meadow district. They had five sons and three daughters. 

Charles Lyman, son of Stephen Norton, was a large and suc- 
cessful farmer of Goshen. Several of his descendants are living 
in Norfolk. None of the descendants of Anson Norton are living 
in Norfolk. 

Probably the most important family in the south part of the 
town during its history is the family of Grants, some of whom 
have lived in or near the point called Grantville, a station on the 
Railroad in this town since 1761. 

The first settler in the town of the name was Elijah Grant, the 
4th generation from Matthew, who was the first of the name in 
America, and who lived and died in Windsor, in this state, Decem- 
ber, 1681. 

Elijah Grant, son of Josiah, was born in Litchfield, April, li.iS. 
Settled in Norfolk in 1761. Represented the town in the General 
Assembly in 1782. Died August, 1798. 

His sons were Joel, born in Litchfield, Feb., 1756. 

Roswell, born in Litchfield, August, 1762. 

Moses, born in Norfolk, August, 1765. 

Levi, born in Norfolk, 1771. 

Of the next generation, the children of Joel Grant and Zilpah 
Cowles, were Deacon Elijah, who was well known in this town, al- 
though he lived beyond the town line on the old Greenwoods turn- 
pike in Millbrook. 

Jerusha, who married Roswell Griswold. 

Nancy, who was the first wife of Dea. Amos Pettibone. 

James, a farmer, who died in this town at 36. 

Zilpah Polly Grant, born May 30, 1794. 

Roswell Grant, the second son of Elijah, boi'n in Litchfield, 
August, 1762. Married first, Hannah Coy. Married second, Eliza- 
beth Robbins Lawrence. The compiler of the Grant family says 
of him:— "Tailor and farmer; private in 7th Conn. Reg. Militia, 
1780. While in the Highlands he was posted as guard on one of 
the bleakest points, in extremely cold weather. The army removed 
without recalling him, but he stuck to his post until relieved, two 
days later. While a little eccentric, he was entirely honest and a 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 557 

great lover of justice, but inclined to punish bis own faults with 
great severity. 

His daughter by his second marriage, Anna E., "a tailoress; 
gave valuable aid in the compilation of the Grant family history." 

Moses Grant, the third son of Elijah, born in Norfolk, August, 
1765; resided at Grantville in the old Grant homestead; farmer and 
teacher. He had six daughters and five sons. Joel M., the eldest 
son, was a farmer; died at Chautauqua, N. Y. 

Giles Phelps Grant, born March, 1801, died at Caledonia, N. Y., 
Jan., 1877. In 1852 he settled in Rochester, N. Y.; "was very suc- 
cessful as a wholesale and retail boot and shoe merchant. The first 
merchant to send out travelling salesmen. A prominent man, of 
great nobility of character, kind and generous." 

The third son, Garry Cook Grant, died unmarried at Grant- 
ville when 36 years old. Was a farmer and manufacturer of cheese 
boxes. 

Harry McGill Grant, the fourth son, was a pi*ominent business 
man of this town; "resided at Grantville in the old homestead, 
which he bought, together with half of the shop and saw-mill. 
Was a farmer, lumberman and cheese-box manufacturer. He died 
Sept. 20, 1870, aged 64. 

Riley Andrews Grant, the youngest of Moses Grant's children, 
born July, 1817, a farmer, is still living at Grantville. 

Levi Grant, the youngest of the sons of Elijah Grant, was a 
farmer and owned mills in Norfolk. Died in his 45th year. Had 
two daughters, who married two sons of Launcelot Phelps of Cole- 
brook; were prominent citizens, farmers, in West Groton, N. Y. 

Another daughter married Robert Armstrong, who lived and 
died in Wisconsin. 

Harvey Grant, the only son of Levi Grant, born in Norfolk, 
July, 1794; married in Norfolk, Nov., 1816, Experience Norton; lived 
in Norfolk until 1834, then removed to Wellington, Ohio. In 1845 
moved to Ripon, Wisconsin, where he became a prominent man. 
Elder of the Presbyterian Church, member of the Wisconsin As- 
sembly several terms, and of the Wisconsin Senate one term. He 
had ten sons, nine of them born in Norfolk; all of them married 
and had families. His wife. Experience Norton, was a daughter 
of Stephen Norton, already mentioned; one of a family of fifteen 
children, and is said to have been a beautiful woman in every 
regard. 

Reminiscences of Roswell Grant (Boyd's Annals): "Roswell 
Grant, son of Elijah Grant of Norfolk, resided until 1804 in the 
N. W. comer of Winchester, on part of the Richard Beckley farm, 
and afterward lived for many years on the same farm in Norfolk. 
He was a large farmer and a laborious man, honest and conscien- 



558 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

tious in a way of his own. Having carelessly left bis barn doors 
open through a mid-winter night, he punished himself the night fol- 
lowing by again opening them and sitting in the draft of a bitter 
northwest wind until morning. In his declining years he became 
poor, and worked in Winsted as a hired man. Such was liis love 
for work that he would steal off on Sunday and hoe his pious em- 
ployer's potatoes, without his knowledge and without compensa- 
tion. 

He joined the Continental Army when seventeen years old, and 
endured hard service with characteristic fortitude. When Baron 
Steuben was selecting his corps for special discipline, he passed in 
front of Grant's company while on parade. Grant was surprised 
to find himself the only man taken from the company; being, as he 
said, "such a little nubbin of a fellow, I had no idea he would take 
me." While in the Highlands he was posted as guard on one of 
the bleakest points, in extremely cold weather. The army moved 
without recalling him, but he stuck to his post till relieved two 
days after. 

Going to Litchfield in his advanced life, on foot, a neighbor en- 
trusted him with a letter to be delivered there. He had reached 
within a mile of his home, after dark, on his return, when he dis- 
covered that he had brought the letter back. He immediately 
turned and walked fourteen miles to Litchfield, delivered the letter 
and came home before daylight the next morning. He died July, 
1837, aged 75." 

In the early history of the town Jonathan Brown lived on the 
Winchester road, a half mile or so from its junction with the 
Goshen road. In 1769 Ebenezer Norton deeded "to Jonathan 
Brown three and one-half acres of land near said Brown's house, 
on the south side of the Winchester road." This was probably 
called the Goddard place many years later. Daniel Hotchkiss, 
Esq., lived in the old Goddard house when he was first married; 
later he lived for many years at the junction of the Goshen and 
Winchester roads, and still later for the balance of his life on the 
old Palmer place, where he built the present Marvin house. 

When Burgoyne's army, in the time of the Revolutionary war, 
passed through and for a time encamped in Norfolk, a soldier 
named Bandall, from their ranks, tarried behind and settled here. 
His son, Frederick Bandall, lived on the road leading from the 
South End school-house to Grant's. In the '40's Mr. Bandall sold 
his farm to Moses Cowles and William C. Phelps, and left town. 

Mr. Philo Smith married a daughter of Capt. Asahel Case, as is 
mentioned elsewhere, and spent his life on a farm near Grantville. 
For a time he raised mulberry trees and silk-worms, and produced 
some silk, but this enterprise was not a very great and permanent 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 559 

success. He for some years bad a saw-mill and a cheese-box sbop 
on a water privilege upon bis farm. At one time cataracts formed 
upon his eyes and rendered him blind, but by an operation bis 
sight was pai'tially restored, so that with the use of very strong 
lenses lie could see to get about. His son, Obadiah, succeeded him 
on the farm. His other son, Lorrin E., went to the Pacific coast, 
and is living at Colton, Washington. 

Mr. and Mrs. Philo Smith were very regular attendants at 
church, and were usually at the Friday afternoon church prayer 
meeting, although they lived more than three miles from the church. 

Another of the early settlers very near the Grants was Mr. 
Luther Foot. Very little has been learned about him, save that his 
wife was a Phelps, that she died in 1833, and that he died in 1834, 
aged 74. His son, Pliny Foot, for many years carried on a tannery, 
which stood near his house, and did a prosperous business, tanning 
different grades of leather: cow-hides, kip and calf -skins, selling 
his leather principally at Hartford. Under the preaching of Gip 
Smith and other Mormons, it has been said that for a time Mr. Foot 
became a Mormon exhorter. He was a great talker, and had a 
remarkably loud voice. He gave the Mormon missionaries two 
hundred dollars, and took their note for three hundred more. He 
went to the Mormon headquarters some years later, hoping to col- 
lect his note for $300, but he could not collect it, and the Mormons 
tried to induce him to give them also what money he had with him, 
and trust the Lord to help him get home without money. This 
ended his Mormon belief. He had formerly been in the Congrega- 
tional Church, and later in the Baptist Church. 

Mr. Oliver Burr Butler was a son of Hezekiah Butler of New 
Marlborough, his mother being a daughter of Oliver Burr, and 
granddaughter of Ebenezer Burr, one of Norfolk's earliest settlers. 
Born in 1791, he learned the trade of shoemaker when that meant 
a good deal, all boots and shoes for men, women and children being 
made to order, by measure, in shops or at people's houses, all hand 
work, — sewing machines and other machines being then unknown. 
Mr. Butler never married. It was said during his day that early 
in life he expected to marry a lady, a native of the town, but that 
she never had given him any encouragement, and then, as now, 
it required two persons at least to make a contract. Later in life 
it was said he thought he was going to marry another lady, with 
no more I'eason for so thinking than in the first instance; that "it 
was simply an old bachelor's eccentricity." 

A brother. Dr. Elizer Butler, went out as a medical missionary 
to the Choctaw Indians, in the early days of missionary efforts, 
and Mr. Oliver Butler was during all his life deeply interested in 
missions and missionary work, and was a liberal and constant 



560 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

contributor to the cause of missions, and by his will left most of 
his property to the American Board of Foreign Missions. The 
writer distinctly remembers that at Mr. Butler's funeral in Septem- 
ber, 1865, Dr. Eldridge said in his most emphatic, forcible manner 
that "Mr. Butler was the most liberal man who had ever lived in 
this town, considering the way in which he earned his money, what 
he had and what he gave." 

When Mr. William Lawrence left town, Mr. Butler bought his 
Iiouse, then expecting that he might be married any day, and for 
about twenty years kept it standing vacant, going into and through 
it daily, but refusing to rent it except in one instance for a short 
time, as a matter of accommodation, notifying the man that he 
must be prepared to move out at an hour's notice, as he might hmi- 
self want the house any day. This is the house built by Esq. 
Michael F. Mills, owned by Rev. Ralph Emerson when he was 
pastor of the church here, then for many years by William Law- 
rence, a merchant, now the residence of Mrs. Frederick E. Porter. 

Mr. Butler was a constant attendant at church services and 
prayer-meetings, but never took an active part in carrying on the 
latter. One Saturday evening he was the only man present at the 
prayer meeting, and seeing the situation he went to the desk after 
a hymn had been sung, read a chapter from the Bible, and, closing 
the book, remarked, 'the meeting is out so far as I am concerned,' 
took his hat and left. He was elected Town Treasurer in 1836, and 
held the office through annual elections for some twenty years. He 
was an upright man, of unquestioned integrity of character. He 
represented the town in the General Assembly of 1817. 

During the early history of this town there were a large num- 
ber of families here by the name of Holt. They were principally, 
if not all, descendants of William Holt, who was one of the early 
settlers of New Haven. Isaac Holt, a great-grandson of William, 
born in East Haven, Ct., October 14, 1720, removed to this town 
from East Haven on the organization of the town in 1758. He mar- 
ried in 1741, Mercy, daughter of Eleazer and Mercy Morris. He 
lived in the northeast part of the town, west from the Great Pond. 
They had nine children. He died in 1806, aged 86. His wife died 
in 1801. They had lived together as husband and wife sixty years. 
Their children were Mercy, who married Samuel Knapp of Dan- 
bury, Conn., and settled in Norfolk; they had seven children. 

Isaac, who married Mabel Dowd, and had no children. "In his 
will he left a legacy of £45 to the town for school purposes, on 
condition that the Assembly's Shorter Catechism should be taught. 
He died October, 1797, aged 55." His brother, Jacob, born in 1750, 
had three children, who were said to have removed to Kentucky. 
He was killed at Norfolk in 1774 by the falling in of a well. A 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 561 

sister, Desiab, married John Phelps of Norfolk. They had seven 
children, viz: John, Isaac, Morris, Daniel, Mercy, Desiah, and 
Abiram, all born in Norfolk. 

The fifth child of Isaac and Mercy Holt was Eleazer, born in 
East Haven, August, 1752; maiTied Elizabeth Stone of Norfolk; 
lived and died there in 18.3.5, aged 82. He was many years a justice 
of the peace and represented the town in thirteen sessions of the 
General Assembly. He served in the war of the revolution, and 
was present at the taking of Burgoyne. He lived in the north part 
of the town. Had one son, Allen S., who is mentioned later, and 
two daughters. The sixth child of Isaac Holt was Nicholas, born in 
East Haven in 1755; lived in the north part of this town; married 
first, Keturah Pratt; married second, Mrs. Sarah Bingham, daugh- 
ter of John Phelps; married third, Mrs. Lydia Phelps, daughter of 
Reuben Gaylord, and widow of Jedediah Phelps. He had ten chil- 
dren, and died April, 1832, aged 76. He was a soldier in the Revo- 
lutionary war, under Captain Watson; enlisted when he was only 
17 years old; they were ordered to proceed to Quebec and assist 
General Montgomery. Captain Watson met the enemy on the re- 
treat, discomfited, enfeebled and sick with the smallpox. Nicholas 
took the disease in crossing Lake George, and leaped into the water 
as the disease was breaking out. He took a severe cold which 
settled in his hip, occasioning a large swelling, which partially 
luaimed him for life. 

The eighth child of Isaac Holt was Stephen, born in East 
Haven, September, 1760; married Elizabeth Bunce. They had eight 
children. In the early part of his life he lived in the north part" of 
the town, but spent his last years and died at the home of his .son 
in West Norfolk. He was for sixty years a church member, and 
voted at every Presidential election until 1852. He died June 12, 
1855, aged 95. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. 

The youngest child of Isaac Holt was Morris, born in East 
Haven, April, 1763. He spent his life in Norfolk; married Sarah 
Kingsbury. They had seven children. He died March, 1815, 
aged 52. 

Some of the descendants of Isaac Holt, the first settler of that 
name in the town, were the children of Samuel Knapp and Mercy 
Holt, his wife; Rev. Isaac Knapp; born in this town in 1775; gradu- 
ated at Williams College 1800; was ordained the fifth minister of 
Westfield, Mass., in 1803; died there July, 1847, aged 72. 

Ezekiel Knapp, a physician, of New Marlboro, Mass. 

Bushnell Knapp, born in 1777; married Desiah Hall; was a life 
long resident of this town, living in the north-west part of the 
town. He was a farmer, and in early life a military man, receiving 
the title of Major, by which title he was designated through life. 



562 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Major Bushnell Knapp died September 27, 1868, aged 91. His 
father, Samuel Knapp, died in 1816, aged 90. Colonel Horace 
Bushnell Knapp, only son of Major Knapp, a life long resident of 
this town, died October 4, 1895, aged 83. 

Allen S. Holt, son of Eleazer Holt, married Elizabeth Butler; 
lived in this town; they had ten children. One of his sons, Eleazer, 
born June, 1810, married Melissa Sexton. Nicholas and Keturah 
Pratt Holt, mentioned above, had ten children. Eunice married 
Alvin Norton. They spent their lives in this town, as did also their 
son, Isaac Norton. Keturah, another daughter, married Isaac 
Spaulding. He died, and she married as a second husband Deacon 
Dudley Norton of this town, who had manned as his first wife 
Phebe Holt, a younger sister of Keturah, his second wife. Lyman, 
a son of Nicholas Holt, removed to Homer, N. Y., and then to 
Genesee, Wisconsin. Another son. Rev. Nicholas Holt, died at Cole- 
brook River, October, 1847, aged 62. He had twin sons, Erastus 
and Aretus, who settled in Atlanta, Ga. Nathan, another son of 
Nicholas Holt, was an organ builder; resided at Guilford, N. Y. 

Erastus, still another sou, born 179.5, married Harriet, daughter 
of Benjamin Warren of Tyringham, Mass. She died; he married 
second, Caroline Dutton. Lived at Sheridan, N. Y. Had seven 
children. 

The children of Stephen and Elizabeth Bunce Holt were:— Har- 
riet, born March, 1787 lived unmarried in this town; died March 
30, 1880, aged 93. Her sister, Almiris, born September, 1796, lived 
immarried in this town and died April 1. 1880, aged 84, while the 
friends had gone to the burial of her sister Harriet. Isaac lived" in 
Salisbury; had one son, Roger. Rev. Eleazer, graduated at Yale 
College 1823. Was pastor of a Presbyterian Church at Reading, 
Penn., where he died, February, 1835, aged 35. 

Stephen Jay, born November, 1794; lived on the farm in West 
Norfolk, near the Canaan line. Married Amanda Rice; died in 
1874, aged 80. Had one son, Henry J., who spent most of his life 
on the farm in West Norfolk, and is now living at Hays City, 
Kansas. His sons, George H. and Edward D., are residents of this 
town. 

Almira, twin with Almiris, married Col. Augustus P. Pease. 
They had seven children. Dr. William A. lived at Dayton, Ohio; 
died November, 1889. 

Elizabeth, married Frederick Lawrence; died 1840. 

Helen E., married Frederick Lawrence; died 1895. 

Harriet A., married Augustus P. Lawrence of Norfolk. 

Stephen Holt, lives at Fairplay, Colorado. 

George Eleazer Pease, born August, 1832. Graduated at Yale 
College, 1856. Studied law with Judge George B. Holt at Dayton, 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 563 

Ohio. Was admitted to the bar and practiced his profession for 
ten years in Illinois. In the War of the Rebellion he was Captain 
of Company M, Third Illinois Cavalry. He married Isabella L. 
Bond in 1863; had four children; one of them is a prominent lawyer 
of Park County, Colorado. Mr. Pease went to Colorado in 1873, 
and engaged in the practice of law at Fairplay in Park County; 
for some time he was interested in mining at Leadville, Colo. He 
was an active politician; was a member of the Constitutional Con- 
vention of Colorado in 1875, and also a member of the Sixth Gen- 
eral Assembly of that state, and a State Senator in the Ninth and 
the Tenth General Assemblies. He was elected President pro 
tempore of the State Senate in the Tenth General Assembly, and 
died while holding that office, in 1895. 

JUDGE GEORGE B. HOLT. 

One of the sons of Norfolk who in his day distinguished him- 
self, honored his family name and his friends, did credit to his 
native town as well as to his native state and the state of his 
adoption, was Honorable George Bunce Holt, son of Stephen and 
Elizabeth Bunce-Holt, who was born in this town June 13, 1790; 
married June, 1821, Mary Blodgett; their children were three 
daughters. 

In P. K. Kilbourn's Biography of distinguished sons of Litch- 
field County, it is said of George B. Holt: "His parents designed 
him for the legal profession; he entered the Law School of Reeves 
and Gould in Litchfield, and, passing the required examination and 
being found qualified, in 1812 he was admitted to the Bar, and 
licensed to practice law. Ohio at that time was in the far west, 
and from the reports of the early emigrants of its vast fertility, 
young Holt wished to see the country, to become a part of it, to 
share the privations of its settlers, and to assist in building up the 
new state. In 1819 we find him a citizen of the then small village 
of Dayton, and the following year he there raised his sign as 
Attorney-at-Law. 

In 1822 Mr. Holt established and for three years conducted the 
"Miami Republican," a newspaper devoted to news, agriculture 
and the dissemination of democratic doctrines. In the fall of 1824 
Mr. Holt was elected to the Legislature of the state, and partici- 
pated in the passage of the laws which made that session a most 
important one. Under the auspices of DeWitt Clinton, New York 
had commenced the canal, by which the waters of the Hudson 
were united with those of Lake Brie, making direct communication 
between the great lakes and the waters of the Atlantic. The neces- 
sity of similar communications between the lakes and the Ohio 



564 HISTORY OF NOKFOLK. 

river had excited public attention, and with it opposition of a bitter 
kind. Mr. Holt was a prominent advocate of the work, and em- 
ployed the columns of his paper to favor the measure. He was 
elected again to the Legislature and during that session the first 
canal law was passed, the Ohio and Miami Canals com- 
menced, and the policy of the state, in favor of internal improve- 
ments, settled. 

Ohio at that time had no school system; money was scarce; but 
little produce was exported, farmers were in too straitened circum- 
stances to give their children the benefits of a common school edu- 
cation. Mr. Holt was a member of a committee of the Legislature 
of 1824 and '25, that reported a bill which became a law, establish- 
ing the common school system of Ohio. In 1827 Mr. Holt was 
elected Brigadier General of the State Militia, and for some years 
commanded one of the finest brigades in the state. 

In 1827 he was elected Brigadier General of the State Milftia, 
and for some years commanded one of the finest brigades in the 
state. 

In 1828 he was elected to the State Senate, and served two 
terms. In 1830 he was elected presiding Judge of the Circuit Court, 
in which he had practiced, and served the constitutional term of 
seven years. 

In 1842 he was re-elected as presiding Judge of the same circuit, 
and served out his constitutional term. During the interval be- 
tween his first and second terms as Judge, he divided his time be- 
tween his practice and agriculture and stock growing, of which he 
was always passionately fond, and spent large sums in improving 
the breed of cattle, introducing to his state the first thorough-bred 
short-horned Durham cattle. In 1850 he was elected a member of 
the convention to revive and amend the constitution of the state. 
For half a century Judge Holt was a member of the Presbyterian 
Church, ever recognized as a sincere Christian man, and was 
among the early and ever steady friends of the temperance cause." 

THE HUMPHREY FAIVIILT. 

The first of the name in this town was Deacon Michael Hum- 
phrey, born in Simsbury, Ct., November, 1703. He settled in his 
native town, where he introduced the manufacture of leather. He 
was a deacon in the Congregational Church in Simsbury, and rep- 
resented the town in the General Assembly in 1759. He removed to 
Norfolk about 1760, and was chosen deacon at the organization of 
the church. He was town clerk from 1760 until his death in 1778, 
at the age of 75; and held other important positions. He married 
Mercy Humphrey of Simsbury, and they had nine children. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 565 

His son Daniel first settled in Norfolk, but soon returned to 
Simsbury, and became eminent as a lawyer and in public positions. 

His son Dudley, born August, 1733; died March, 1794; married 
Keziah Griswold. They had no children. She died in this town in 
1883, aged 96, with unimpaired mind and memory. Dudley Hum- 
phrey was a lawyer, prominent in the affairs of the town; repre- 
sented the town in fourteen semi-annual sessions of the General 
Assembly. He lived on Beech Flats. 

Phebe, daughter of Deacon Michael Humphrey, born May, 1745; 
married Dr. Ephraim Guiteau. In 'The Humphreys Family' it is 
said:— "Dr. Gittian was of French extraction, a gentleman of high 
culture, and eminent in his profession. During the War of the 
Revolution he held a commission as Surgeon in the American Navy, 
under which he rendered distinguished service. He died at Nor- 
folk April 21, 1816, in his 79th year. His wife, Phebe Humphrey 
Gittian, is still remembered as a noble woman, universally be- 
loved, whose goodness and benevolence in society secured for her 
in advanced years the tender title of 'Mother Gittian.' 

The childi'en of Dr. Ephraim and Phebe-Humphrey Guiteau 
were: 

Phebe Sophia, born 1766; died 1810. 

Louisa, born January, 1769; married Dr. Benjamin Welch; be- 
came the mother of several distinguished sons and daughters, who 
are mentioned at length elsewhere. 

Philo, son of Dr. Ephraim Guiteau, born April, 1766; married 
Sarah Bingham; died November, 1810. Their children were: 

1 Delia, married Rev. Pettibone of N. Y. State. 

2 Almuris, married George Rockwell of this town, son of Joseph 
Rockwell. 

3 Rev. Sheridan Guiteau, settled in Baltimore, Md. 

4 Dr. Corydon Guiteau; settled in Tyringham, Mass. 

Asahel, son of Dea. Michael Humphrey, born July, 1747; mar- 
ried Prudence Merrills, and settled in Norfolk. He was a lawyer, 
of fine abilities and excellent character. He represented the town 
In ten semi-annual sessions of the Assembly. He removed to Ohio, 
where he remained for a short time, when he returned and settled 
In New Marlboro, where he died .January, 1827. His widow died 
August, 1840, aged 87. 

They had eight children: Dudley, born June, 1775; married 
October, 1798, Polly, daughter of Capt. Darius and Mary-Aiken- 
Phelps of Norfolk, and settled in Norfolk, where their seven chil- 
dren were born. He was town clerk in 1797; died May, 1823, aged 
48. His widow died August, 1862, aged 82. 

John, son of Dudley Humphrey, born June, 1801: settled in Nor- 
folk; a prominent citizen; was a farmer; represented the town in 
the Legislature in 1849 and 1853; died July, 1854. 



566 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Mary, daughter of Dudley Humphrey, married Capt. John 
Dewell. The family Is mentioned elsewhere. 

Griswold Humphrey, settled in Canaan, was a druggist during 
his entire life. 

Merrell, son of Dudley Humphrey, born 1809, was a civil engi- 
neer and land surveyor; a man of unusual strength of mind and 
decision of character and purpose; a strong advocate of temperance 
and all moral reforms; one of the early anti-slavery men of New 
England, gentle and reserved, yet a man of strong opinions, who 
had the courage of his convictions. He spent most of his life in 
his native town. Late in life he removed to and died in Canaan. 

Dea. James, son of Dudley Humphrey, born 1813, was a farmer 
and resident of West Norfolli; held many town offices; reiweseuted 
the town in the Legislature of 1858; was an active Christian and 
temperance worker and deacon of the Congregational Church for 
many years. He died February, 1882, aged 69. 

Dr. Asahel Humphrey, son of Asahel, and brother of Dudley 
Humphrey, was born in this town April, 1779. Studied medicine 
and spent most of his life in Salisbury, Conn., where he died, April, 
1852. 

THE DEWELL FAMILY. 

Captain John Dewell, who was a native of Pine Plains, N. Y., 
came to Norfolk when a young man, about 1824. When asked why 
he ever left that fine farming country in Duchess County and set- 
tled in such a rough place as Norfolk, his reply was that he liked 
the kind of people, the societj', the moral atmosphere of Norfolk 
better. He was early interested in the Sunday School, which was 
first organized about the time he came to this town, was one of 
the early Superintendents of the school, and also for some years 
Its Librarian. He had learned the trade of a scythe manfacturer 
before coming to Norfolk, and for a year or more worked at his 
trade in company with Mr. Samuel Cone, when he bought a water- 
privilege and a small shop of Marcus Allen in West Norfolk, where 
he commenced manufacturing scythes, and later built the stone 
scythe-shop in which he did a large and successful business for 
many years. Later Captain Dewell built a fine stone house, in 
which he lived the remainder of his life, and in a part of which 
building he conducted a store, and kept the West Norfolk post- 
ofiice, from the time of its establishment until his death. Capt. 
Dewell was an exemplary Christian man, an active temperance 
man, always found in the temperance organizations,— the 'Sons of 
Temperance,' 'Good Templars,' and others, and was also a promi- 
nent member of the order of 'A. F. and A. M.' 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 567 

He was in all matters affecting the town and the\ community a 
rarely public-spirited man, and was in the last years of his life 
very active and efficient in pushing forward the project for a rail- 
road over Norfolk hills, almost the last worii of his life, and the 
exposure which brought on his fatal illness being an effort to ad- 
vance the interests of the railroad, and to secux-e a station for West 
Norfolk. Capt. Dewell was a patriotic, kind-hearted, generous 
man, as was repeatedly shown by the aid which he rendered the 
families of the soldiers in the Civil War. A soldier's wife had 
contracted a large debt at his store for necessities, and was much 
distressed at her inability to pay. Learning her condition he freely 
'forgave her the whole debt.' The woman survived him many 
years, and often said she never ceased to thank and pray for Capt- 
Dewell. Among the offices that he held was that of Judge of Pro- 
bate for several years. State Senator from the Seventeenth Sena- 
torial District, for one term, and one term as Representative, at 
the time the Railroad was to be pushed over the hills. 

He married Mary, daughter of Dudley Humphrey, a prominent 
citizen of the town. Capt. John Dewell died October, 1871, aged 76. 
Mrs. Mary Dewell died April, 1891, aged 87. 

Their eldest son. Captain John Humphrey Dewell, served as 
Captain in the Civil War, suffered from disease contracted in the 
service, during the balance of his life, and died in 189B. Their son, 
James Dudley Dewell, who commenced his business career in 
West Norfolk, has for many years been a prominent business man 
in New Haven, President of the Board of Trade of that city. Lieu- 
tenant Governor of the State, and held many other positions of 
importance and influence. 

Their daughters, Mi's. Elizabeth Dewell-Peck and Miss Sarah 
R. Dewell, reside in New Haven, and their daughter Mattie is the 
wife of Mr. Theron Swain, a prominent merchant of Boston. 

SOUTH NORFOLK FAMILIES. 

Of the families who lived seventy-five years or more ago in 
what is now known as the South Norfolk District, we have the 
remembrances of Mr. Lucius Pendleton, now eighty-three years old, 
of excellent memory and still vigorous. He was a son of Mr. Ethan 
Pendleton, for a long period a prominent farmer in the town, who 
was born near Westerly, Rhode Island, in 1776. He married Mercy 
Taylor, and removed to Brookfleld, N. Y., where he lived about 
nine years. Three sons, Taylor, Fi-ederick and Russell, were born 
in Brookfleld, and Mrs. Pendleton died there, when Mr. Pendleton 
returned with his children to his native place. He married again, 
Esther Hinckley; lived in Rhode Island some six years, where three 



568 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

children, Sally, Abel and Hobart, were born. In about 1814 Mr. 
Pendleton came to Norfolk, and for two years hired the farm, 
which he then bought, paying $8,5.50 for some five hundred acres. 
He bought more land later, and for some years owned not less than 
a thousand acres, keeping from 40 to 60 cows, besides young stock, 
sheep, etc. His children, Harry, Mary and Lucius, were born in 
Norfolk; Lucius was born in 1817. Esther, the second wife, died 
in 1824. In 1830 Mr. Pendleton married his third wife, Lucinda 
Hungerford of Colebrook. Two children, Robert and Olive, were 
born to them. Lucinda, the third wife, died, and his fourth wife was 
Mrs. Clarissa Pinney-Miller, daughter of Esq. Grove Pinney. The 
fourth wife died, and he married as his fifth wife Huldah Wright 
of New Marlboro, who survived him. Three of his wives died of 
consumption. Mr. Ethan Pendleton died September, 1860, aged 84. 
He was a very strong, vigorous man, though rather small of stature, 
but in a chopping contest able to 'log' a much larger man who 
challenged him, and could 'cut out of their swath' most of the noted 
mowers of his time. By Capt. Jo. Bailey of Goshen, who had a 
nickname for everybody, Mr. Pendleton was called 'Stonington 
Blue,' as he formerly lived in Stonington. Frederick, son of Ethan 
Pendleton, maiTied Flora Pinney, sister of his father's fourth wife. 
Sally Pendleton married Damon Pinney, brother of her father's 
wife. Mary Pendleton married Orson Pinney, cousin of her 
father's wife. Harry Pendleton married Martha Miller, daughter 
of his father's wife. (Query: What was the mutual relationship 
of all those couples and their children?) 

In Mr. Ethan Pendleton's day there were in that district four 
'powerful men,' for work; these were Mr. Pendleton, Ashur Smith, 
a very large, bony man, Dea. Noah Miner and Stephen Norton. 

The old Goshen road, which came from over Moses' Hill, and 
thence on south, as is described elsewhere, through what was 
South Norfolk village, ran then south-west, up the steep hill, and a 
little east of Ethan Pendleton's house, over the top of the high 
hill south from there into Goshen. The present Goshen road was 
opened in about 1811, according to Roys. 

It is probable that Dea. Noah Miner owned the land west from 
Mr. Pendleton's house at one time, as that was in early days 
known as Miner Hill. 

A Mr. Dixon lived a short distance over the town line in 
Goshen, and there carried on saddle and harness making. Light- 
ning struck his house at one time and Mrs. Dixon was killed. 

Mr. Ethan Pendleton had a saw-mill and shop, where he sawed 
lumber and also cut out from black oak timber great quantities of 
'clock-plates,' as they were called, in which the works of the 
wooden clocks ran that were made in those days. These plates 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 569 

were made of quartered oak, only the part of the log between the 
sap and the heart being used. They were sold in Bristol, Tariff- 
ville, Plymouth Hollow, now Thomaston, and other places. Samuel 
Osborn was running one of the large circular saws in this mill, and 
was thrown upon the saw and so terribly mangled that he died in 
thirty hours. 

Mr. Augustus Smith built and lived for a number of years in 
the next house north from Mr. Ethan Pendleton. Later this place 
was sold to Mr. Abel Pendleton, where he spent most of his life. 
It is now the home of Mr. Bevens. 

Ml*. Ethan Pendleton lived in his old house until 18.50, when he 
was 74 years old. He then built the fine, lai-ge house which still 
remains. One of the carpenters who helped to build this house 
was a young man from North Goshen, Asaph Hall. He was a great 
reader and student at that time, and a few years later studied 
under Mr. William B. Rice, Principal of the Norfolk Academy. It 
is unnecessary to say more than that Professor Asaph Hall, the 
Astronomer of world-wide fame, was in 1850 Asaph Hall the car- 
penter, working in South Norfolk. 

Abijah Brown lived in a house long since torn down, north from 
Mr. Pendleton's. He was a saddle and harness maker. 

Mr. Amos Baldwin came to Norfolk and for some years owned 
the farm which he sold later to Mr. Stephen Norton, and then 
bought of Mr. Whiting the farm on the hill where he spent the re- 
mainder of his life, and where he died, May 10, 1847, aged 68. His 
daughter Julia married Mr. James M. Cowles, and spent her life 
in Norfolk. His son Harvey studied medicine and practiced in 
Goshen. His sons Andrew and Amos settled in Watertown, Conn., 
where they spent their lives. 

Mr. Harry Pendleton owned and for some years lived on the 
Amos Baldwin place, and later sold to his brother Abel, and lived 
in a house under the hill, in South Norfolk. 

Mr. Augustus Roys and Augustus Smith, son of Ashur Smith, 
built the first tannery in South Norfolk, which was burned and 
rebuilt by them, and carried on for a number of years. The chil- 
dren of Augustus Roys were Erastus, who launched out in the 
leather business and about bankrupted his father; Harlow, who 
succeeded his father in business and is mentioned elsewhere; Caro- 
line, Clarissa, and Maria, who married James Gilbert. 

Augustus Roys built a fine house, which was afterwards owned 
by his son Harlow, and later occupied by Samuel D. Northway, 
and now by Charles Northway, his son. Mr. Roys in early life 
lived several years in the Oliver Burr house, mentioned below, and 
in this hoiise his children were born and his first wife died. 

The first settler on what has been the Riggs farm, near fhe 



570 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Soutb Norfolk tanneries, for three generations, was Oliver Burr, 
son of Ebenezer Burr. He built a house on the west side of tlie 
road, where Mi*. Eden Riggs' shoe shop still stands. Oliver Burr 
died hei-e of consumption in 1775, aged 31. 

Mr. Ashur Smith, who was the father of Rufus and Augustus 
Smith, bought this place after the death of Mr. Burr, and built the 
house which is still there, occupying it until about 1825, when he 
sold out to Esq. Grove Pinney of Colebrook. Several years later 
]\Ir. Pinney sold out to Mr. Eden Riggs. Esq. Pinney, his son 
Damon Pinney, Frederick Pendleton and Mary Pendleton, all emi- 
grated from Norfolk at the same time, going west, to Pennsyl- 
vania, The house which was sold by Amos Baldwin to Stephen 
Norton, afterward to Hobart Pendleton, and now occupied by Mr. 
Tibbals, was built on the old Goshen road, north from the Hiram 
Roys place, and from there moved to its present site after the new 
Goshen road was opened. It was originally of the "lean-to" style, 
and in its new location, fronting south. Mr. Norton rebuilt it, 
raising it to its present height of two stories, and having it front 
toward the road. 

Bethuel Phelps built and occupied for some years the house 
which was for many years the home of Mr. Robert A, Geer, south 
from the James M. Cowles corner. Mr. Phelps married a daugh- 
ter of Stephen Norton and went to Ohio. 

Mr. James M. Cowles bought his farm of Norman Atwood, and 
after occupying the old house for a number of years, which had 
been a tavern, kept by Mr. Daniel Pettibone, and earlier was owned 
by Friend Thrall, he built in 18-15 his house, which in its day was 
perhaps the finest farmhouse in town. He was a thorough, success- 
ful farmer, a prominent man in town affairs, represented the town 
in the Legislature in 1844; was chosen Deacon of the Congrega- 
tional Church in 1864 and held that office at his death, December 
11, 1871, aged 64. 

Mr. Asa Burr spent his life on the farm east from the James 
M. Cowles farm; the house, which was in early days a tavern, stood 
on the corner of the old Goshen road, and has been torn down. 
Mr. Burr was son of Oliver Burr, mentioned above, and was only 
nine years old when his father died. He lived for a number of 
years with his uncle, Daniel Burr. His mother married a Case 
after his father's death and removed to Canton. His sister Hepzi- 
bah married Hezekiah Butler, and was the mother of Oliver Burr 
Butler. He had another sister, Beulah. 

Asa Burr when a young man learned the trade of shoemaker 
of Seth Lockwood of Goshen, and afterward married his daughter, 
Mary. They lived for some years in their father's old house, and 
then went upon his farm, where he lived until his death in 1852, 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 571 

at the age of 86. He had no sons. His daughter Lucia married 
Deacon Lucius Woodward of Watertown. His daughters Diantha 
iuid Polly were never married and spent their lives in their native 
town, the latter especially being a most excellent, efficient woman, 
who went about doing good. Miss Polly Burr died February 26, 
1880, aged 75. Miss Diantha Burr died September 9, 1888, aged 
93. His daughter, Elizabeth, married William Oakley. Their son. 
Burr Oakley, died unmarried. Their daughter, Mary Oakley, mar- 
ried Scott Beach of this town. He died Jime, 1890, aged 40. Mary 
Oakley Beach was a local historian and a writer of some ability. 
She died February 26, 1898, aged 53. Her only child, William 
Burr Beach, died in May of the same year, at the age of 18; and so 
the family is extinct. 

On the old Goshen road, a short distance north of the Asa Burr 
place there was a house where many years ago Bela Clapp lived 
for some time. He was an educated man, but from dissipation 
was considered a worthless fellow. The old house long since dis- 
appeared. 

Deacon Noah Miner, already mentioned, lived west from the 
South Norfolk school-house. He was a man of great energy; an 
active, ardent Christian man, prominent in the town and church 
for many years. His son, Alden Miner, lived with his father, and 
his early death in 1845, at the age of 45 years, was most deeply 
deplored by the family and the entire community. Noah Miner 
was chosen Deacon of the Congregational Church in Norfolk, No- 
vember, 1816; resigned the office November, 1843; died December 
28, 1857, aged 89. Alden Miner left three sons, Seth, Horace and 
Albert, who emigrated to California and died. Preston, another 
sou of Deacon Noah Miner, lived a short distance south from his 
father's. 

Joshua Beach lived north from Deacon Miner's and had a saw 
mill there, on the upper waters of the Naugatuck river— the stream 
that rises in Balcom or Dolphin pond. Mr. Beach sold his mill to 
Amos Baldwin, who employed Amos Gilbert to run the mill for 
several years. Mr. Gilbert's sons were Amos Jr., John and James. 

Turner White lived north of the Joshua Beach place, and Joseph 
Bassett later owned and occupied that place for many years. 

In the early history of the town Mr. Meeker settled in that sec- 
tion which took from him the name of Meekertown. Later a Mr. 
Hills lived on or near the same place, and from him that locality 
is still known as Hill's Corner. Mr. .Joel Beach, a most excellent 
citizen, lived for many years in Meekertown on a farm owned by 
his sister, where he raised a family of five sons and three daugh- 
ters. The sons were Charles, and William, who went to the 
Pacific coast. William was a physician; practiced his profession 



572 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

and died in 1898 in the State of Washington. Benjamin was liilled 
in the Civil war. Edward settled somewhere in Connecticut, and 
Scott, the youngest son, lived and died in this town. Charles 
Beach sent from California money for his father to buy the old 
Stephen Tibbals place, now the Bridgman residence, which made 
H). Beach a comfortable home for the evening of his days. That 
was a noble deed of a worthy son. 

Bouth from Deacon Miner's Mr. Daniel Roys lived for many 
years. One of his daughters, Harriet, married Augustus Munson 
and spent her life near Lake Wangum, on Canaan Mountain, and a 
sister spent most of her life with Mrs. Munson and lived to a great 
age. 

A farmer named Reuben Dean lived west from Deacon Miner's 
for some years, their farms adjoining. Having no cliildren he 
brought up a boy named Amasa Scoville. 

Another man named John Dean, or Deal, lived for many years 
In the Meekertown district. One of his sons was Harlow Dean, and 
a son of Harlow is now a successful physician in Springfield, Mass., 
and a (.laughter has been for many years a teacher in the public 
schools in Hartford. A little prior to 1850 Mr. and Mrs. John Dean, 
then quite old people, were living alone in a little house not far 
from Hills' Corner. After a very severe storm and an unusually 
cold spell in winter, the old couple were found frozen to death 
in their little house. They had tried persistently to build a fire, 
but their matches would not light, having become wet. The writer 
has been told that the ancestor of this family was a man named 
Deal, connected with Burgoyne's army, and when that army passed 
through this town Deal remained behind and settled in this region. 

In the early part of this century Deacon John Beach lived on 
the farm in South Norfolk^ which was known as the Hiram Roys' 
farm, for many years. After Deacon Beach's death, Seth Brown, 
son of Captain Reuben Brown, bought this farm. At that time 
James Roys, the father of Hiram and Augustus Roys, owned the 
farm adjoining, and Mr. Roys and Mr. Seth G. Brown 
exchanged farms, so that Mr. Brown might be nearer his 
father's place and assist him in his blacksmith shop. "Mr. 
Brown spent his life on this farm, and died there December, 
1873, aged G7, and his son, Seth G. Brown, now owns and occupies 
the place. James Roys died in 1839, aged 71, and his son, Hiram 
Roys, lived on the place until about 1864, when he sold to Mr. 
Crumb, and removed to Winsted, where he spent the balance of 
his life. Mr. Roys was an excellent citizen, a constant church 
attendant; had two sons; Lorenzo, the elder, married a daughter of 
Abijah Watson of West Norfolk and settled in Wellington, Ohio. 
The other son was Luther Roys. One daughter, Catharine, mar- 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 573 

ried William C. Odell. After the death of Capt. Reuben Brown in 
1854, bis sons Warren, William and Quincey, carried on that pface 
for a few years, when tbey sold it to Andrew Rider, who occupied 
the farm several years, and sold it to Pbilo Apley. For several 
years past the farm has been owned and occupied by Dr. Lusk. 

The section of the town which for several generations has been 
known as 'Hall Meadow,' was, in early years, owned by Mr. Asaph 
Hall, the grandfather of the present distinguished astronomer of 
that name. There was no public highway at that time to this farm, 
and Mr. Hall had to go across lots to Ethan Pendleton's, Malachi 
Humphrey's, or the Eden Riggs place. Mr. Asaph Hall, father of 
Professor Hall, occupied this place after the death of his father, 
and sold it to Ethan Pendleton, who built a part of the house now 
occupied by Mr. Prentiss Clark, and his sons Frederick and Russell 
Pendleton, lived there for a time. The place was then sold to and 
occupied for some years by Capt. Tibbals, whose sons, Lorrin and 
Frederick, spent their lives on farms near there, on the road lead- 
ing from Hall Meadow to South End. Capt. Tibbals' son, George, 
lived on a farm in Winchester. His sons, Harlow, Lyman and Har- 
man, died young. 

Thomas Gilbert, as eai-ly as 1800, occupied the saw-mill privi- 
lege in Hall Meadow. This was the first mill in that part of the 
town and may have been built by the elder Asaph Hall. Rufus 
Smith, son of Ashur Smith, owned the mill and property after Mr. 
Gilbert, and sold it to Jeremiah Johnson, who carried on quite a 
business there for some years. Jeremiah sold the property to his 
brother, Philemon Johnson, who occupied it until his death a few 
years since. Lyman Tibbals, son of George Tibbals, now owns the 
place. 

Ashur Smith died on this place in 1838, aged 80. 

A saw-mill once stood in South Norfolk, a short distance above 
the old tannery site and was run by Ashur Smith and others. 
The great upright saw was made with teeth welded on a plate of 
iron and would cut a 'calf in the log half an inch wide. 

THE RYAN FAMILY. 

"In 1836 Matthew, Charles, John and Edward Evans Ryan came 
here with their families from Eastern Massachusetts and formed 
the nucleus of what is now the large and important Irish Catholic 
element of our population. The first three were born in Kilkenny, 
Ireland. The fourth was no relation to them, but was of Irish 
descent and born in the United States. Their partnership, as J. & 
E. B. Ryan & Company, purchased the woolen mill, which then stood 
on the north side of Blackberry River. They were all brought up 



574 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

to that trade; the father of the brothers was a cloth manufacturer 
in their native city. 

They subsequently built the large mill on the south side of the 
river, conducted a store, grist-mill, farming lands, reservoirs, etc.; 
the whole plant being the largest business enterprise in Norfolk. 
The new mill was destroyed by fire after the Ryan's time. The 
Ryan men, affable and energetic, with good business qualifications, 
their wives bright, tactful and sensible young women, the new- 
comers rapidly won the good will and confidence of the public. 

Matthew had charge of the store and of the accounts and 
correspondence of the firm. Thus he soon became well known to 
people generally. Charles confined his attention almost entirely 
to the manufacturing department. Edward E. looked after the 
farms and out of door matters directly connected with the business. 
John had a wider acquaintance than the others. He represented 
the firm in its transactions at a distance that required to be looked 
after personally. He was the only one of the partners that took 
much part in politics. 

Upon the retirement of J. & E. E. Ryan & Company from busi- 
ness in 1857, John Ryan studied law, and in 1858 was regularly 
admitted to the bar in Litchfield. But, concluding that the West 
was a more inviting field for a beginner than Connecticut, he 
located the same year in Decatur, 111., duly passed his examina- 
tion, and was admitted to the Illinois bar; a few months after 
reaching Decatur he was made editor of the Decatur Daily Magnet, 
the leading Democratic paper in that portion of the State. He 
was appointed by President Buchanan Postmaster of Decatur. 
When President Lincoln came in he reappointed him for another 
term. He held the office until 1867, when he resigned and removed 
to St. Louis. There he was interested as a promoter and director 
in the company that built the railroad from East St. Louis to 
Decatur. He was twice elected to the Missouri Legislature, and 
was at both sessions Chairman of the Committee on Manufac- 
tures. He died in St. Louis in 1886, not quite 80 years of age. His 
widow, Joanna Boomer Ryan, now (1900) aged 82 years, lives in 
St. Louis, where also reside their sons, Matthew J., who married 
Nancy A., daughter of E. Grove Lawrence of this town, Frank K., 
James R., Bernard E., Lawrence A., and their daughter Margaret 
M. Ryan. 

Matthew Ryan remanied in Norfolk. He was always at "the 
store." Charles M. Ryan, his son, a prosperous merchant, served 
two terms in the Connecticut Legislature. Both father and son 
were honorable business men. Matthew Ryan died August 23d, 
1880, in the eightieth year of his age, the fifty-fourth of his resi- 
dence in the United States, and the forty-fifth of his residence in 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 575 

Norfolk. Charles M. Ryan died five days later, on the 28th of 
August, aged 48 years. They were both men of character and great 
worth." 

The first child born in Colebrook, September, 1767, was a son 
of Samuel Rockwell, and in view of that fact he was named Alpha. 
There being no church in Colebrook at that time the infant was 
brought to Norfolk church and baptised by Mr. Robbins. Mr. Al- 
pha Rockwell died in middle life, leaving several children. One 
daughter, Caroline, lived in the family of Rev. Mr. Emerson, when 
pastor of the church here, and afterward married William Law- 
rence, adopted son of Esq. Joseph Battell. Mrs. Emerson was 
Eliza, daughter of Mr. Martin Rockwell of Colebrook. Another 
daughter of Alpha Rockwell, named Cornelia, was for a time a 
teacher here, and so much beloved was she by her scholars that at 
the urgent request of two of her pupils, their baby sister was 
named Cornelia Rockwell-Seymour, and she became the wife of 
Ralph I. Crissey. Cornelia Rockwell married Osmyn Baker of Am- 
herst, Mass., and died February, 1840, leaving a son, William Law- 
rence Baker,— "Billy Baker." He lived with William Lawrence 
here, and was killed in the war of the rebellion. 

Colebrook was the last town in the state that was organized 
from the public and undivided lands. 

Deacon Edward Gaylord was a resident in the South End dis- 
trict in the early history of the town. He was a soldier in the old 
French war, was a farmer, and lived south of the Stannard place. 
There was an open lot near his house where the South military 
company of the town at times had their trainings. He was chosen 
.Deacon of the church here and held that office until his death in 
*1822, at the age of 78. Ira, a son of Dea. Edward Gaylord, lived 
on the road southwest from the Stannard place, and his father 
spent the last years of his life there, and died there. Dr. Orson 
Buell, formerly of Litchfield, for many years lived in- the house last 
mentioned, and died there in the spring of 1900. He served in the 
army dui'ing the civil war. 

Captain Henry Porter, a native of Colebrook, married a daugh- 
ter of Mr. Jeremiah W. Phelps; owned and occupied the Phelps 
farm, which Jeremiah and Jedediah Phelps owned during their 
entire lives. Capt. Porter was a prominent man in town, society 
and church affairs for many years. He died September, 1862, aged 
75. His children were Lucius, who was a prominent factor in the 
organization and development of the Norfolk and New Brunswick 
Hosiery Company, residing most of his life in New Jersey. 

Frederick E. in his early business life was a cabinet manu- 
facturer; later for a long period of years was the Superintendent of 
the Hosiery Company in this town. He represented the town in 



576 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

the Legislature, was a deacon in the Congregational Church for 
many years, and prominent in all town affairs. He died in June, 
1899, aged 79. Another son of Capt. Porter, James, died when a 
young man. Janette, daughter of Capt. Porter, and wife of Egbert 
T. Butler,— a most noble Christian lady, died in November, 1862, at 
the age of 47, leaving a son, Egbert J., and a daughter, Hattie, who 
died at 24. 

The Hawley family were numerous, prominent and influential 
in the northeast part of the town many decades since. Some of 
them were Samuel, Earl Percy, and Dea. Philo Hawley; the latter 
being an enterprising farmer, who kept a dairy of some fifty cows 
for many years; bought and shipped cheese to the Baltimore mar- 
ket; spent the last years of his life and died in the south. His son, 
Austin, succeeded his father on the farm; was an excellent citizen. 
His son John P., after being a merchant, hotel keeper, etc., became 
a thoroughly converted man; in middle life studied theology, and 
for many years was an able and successful minister. He died in 
1898, having been pastor of the Congregational Church in New 
Hartford for several years. 

Mr. Asa Dutton was for many years a successful farmer, living 
on the old Goshen road. He built thoroughly the fine farm-house 
which for half a century was the home of Mr. Austin Wooster, and 
where the latter died a few years since. Mr. Dutton's son George 
went west. John, the youngest son, died in a hospital in St. Louis, 
where he had been kindly cared for while sick by "the Sisters," and 
notice of his death was by them sent to his parents. A daughter. 
Thankful, married a Mr. Holt and lived in S. W. New York. Jane 
married and lived in Torrington. 

"Mrs. Dutton was a genial, cheery woman. As Mr. Dutton grew 
old he became nervous and gloomy; said he could not carry on his 
farm and that his son Willard must come home and take it, which 
he did, the father deeding the farm to him. In a few months the 
son sold the farm, went to Iowa, and the old people, left without a 
home, spent their few last years with their daughter in Torring- 
ton." (Moral: never deed away your home.) 

Joshua Nettleton in the early history of the town came here 
from Killingworth and settled in the east part of the town, in the 
Loon meadow district, where he spent his life, and died in 1824 at 
the age of 83. Of his four sons, Roger, the oldest, and Joshua, the 
youngest, settled in Ohio. Titus succeeded his father, and spent 
his life on the old homestead, and died in 1845, aged 75. Of the 
four sons of Titus Nettleton, Mark and Joseph died unmarried. 
George married a daughter of Lawrence Mills, but had no children. 
John married first Elizabeth, daughter of Wilcox Phelps. Their 
son, Joseph Phelps Nettleton, was a soldier in the 59th Massachu- 



HISTOEY OF NORFOLK. 577 

setts Volunteers during the war of the rebellion. He died in 1897 
at the age of 50, leaving one son. 

John Nettleton married again Lucretia, daughter of Solomon 
Sacket of Sandisfield. Their two sons died in early childhood. 
Their daughter is the wife of George Holt. John Nettleton is living 
at the age of 86, with mind and memory unimpaired. 

William, son of Joshua Nettleton, died in 1835, aged 59. He 
left two daughters: Margaret, for many years a well known teacher 
In this town, who married Mr. Rollin Beecher of Winsted, and died 
March, 1900. Desiah Nettleton was also for many years a teacher, 
and has been for years an inmate of a retreat at Hartford. 

Samuel Knapp lived on the Canaan mountain road; was a most 
excellent citizen; married Lois Lake; died in 1841, aged 72. Their 
sons, Samuel died in July, 1835, and Hiram died in August of the 
same year,, both young men, and in a few months Isaac, the remain- 
ing son, died, leaving their parents, old people, to be cared for by 
an only sister, Hannah, who married Solomon Goodwin of Litch- 
field. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin tenderly cared for her parents dviring 
their declining years. They were all most excellent Christian peo- 
ple. Mr. Goodwin died in middle life; their children died in in- 
fancy, and Mrs. Goodwin was left alone in the world, no near rela- 
tive, and without means of support; but He who "tempers the 
wind to the shorn lamb" provided a refuge for her. In the home of 
Mr. and Mrs. Merrick G. Hall, and their son, of Great Barrington, 
Mass., very distant relatives, Mrs. Goodwin was given a home and 
tenderly cared for. She lived to the great age of 94 years, and died 
November, 1893. 

"I have been young and now am old; yet have I not seen t~he 
righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." 

Jacob Spaulding, born in Plainfield, Conn., in December, 1733, 
came from Danbury and settled in the north part of the town in 
its early histoi-y. He was in the French war and was present at 
the taking of Quebec by General "Wolfe. His two sons were in the 
Revolutionary army, and in addition he hired a man, paying Tiim 
$S per month through the war, and took care of his wife and two 
children. He collected one hundred and twenty cattle, five of them 
being his own contribution, and took them to the army. His house 
was a retreat for sick and wounded soldiers. Thirty men were 
sent to him to be kept for the winter, and in the spring twenty- 
eight of them went back to the army. He always went by the 
name of Ensign Spaulding. His sons Isaac and Daniel were born 
in this town, and lived in this town and New Marlboro. Isaac 
married Mercy Knapp. Their son, Isaac Jr., was a farmer and 
occupied the farm of his grandfather, Jacob Spaulding, in this 
town. He married Keturah Holt; died in 1832, aged 50; left no 
children. His widow married Dea. Dudley Norton. 



578 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

Daniel, son of Jacob Spaulding, married Estlier Austin. Their 
son Austin was born July, 1784; he married Betsey Clark of Mid- 
dletown, Conn., and died November, 1818. Their sons were Fred- 
erick A., born June, 1810; Daniel R., born July, 1814, and Austin A., 
born February, 1819. Frederick A. Spaulding was a farmer, who 
spent his life in the northwest part of this town; married Mary 
Goodwin of Litchfield. They had two sons, Charles S. and John F., 
and six daughters. 

Daniel R. Spaulding lived in Canaan. Austin A. Spaulding was 
for many years a man of some prominence in town and church af- 
fairs. He held at different times many of the town offices; repre- 
sented the town in the Legislature of 1852, was for several years 
Superintendent of the Sunday school of the Congregational Church, 
was interested and active in some of the manufacturing industries 
of the town, while carrying on his farm on the Goshen road, a 
mile south of the centre. He married Louise, daughter of Truman 
Hart. Their children were two daughters and two sons. William 
A. succeeds his father on the farm. Frederick S. was the originator 
of the "Norfolk Tower," which he edited and published for several 
years, until his early death in 1891, at the age of 3G. 

Edmund Ashley built for a tin-shop the small house now stand- 
ing next north from the Academy, placing the building out to the 
line if not upon the green. He failed in business, and Dea. Amos 
Pettibone bought the building, moved it back where it now stands 
and made it into a dwelling house. 

Joseph Seaward, often mentioned among the first settlers of the 
town, lived near the present site of "The Hillhurst." He was cap- 
tain of the military company of the town, which was so large that 
in September, 1773, Col. John Williams ordered him as Captain, to 
divide the Norfolk militia into two companies,— the North and the 
South companies. 

Mr. Joseph Hulburt about 1840 was a merchant tailor here, 
having his shop for some time over the store of J. & E. E. Ryan & 
Co. He was an active man in the organization and building the 
Methodist church. He built and occupied the house on the north 
road, toward Haystack, which he sold, when leaving town, to Mr. 
Nathaniel B. Stevens. This house is now the residence of Mr. 
Myron N. Clark. 

August. 1885, Rev. John De Pen was hired to supply the pulpit 
of the Congregational Church, for one year, at a salary of $1,500. 

May, 1886, a call was extended to him to settle as pastor of this 
church, and he was duly installed. 

February, 1897, Rev. John De Peu tendered his resignation as 
pastor, having received a call to the First Church of Bridgeport, 
Conn., and "his resignation was accepted, with great regret, and 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 579 

with an expression of appreciation on the part of the Society of the 
earnestness, fidelity and success with which Mr. De Pen has la- 
bored among us during his entire pastorate, and in doing this we 
would recall not only his more immediate labors in connection with 
the church, but in all measures affecting the welfare of the com- 
munity, and particularly of the schools." 

Rev. William F. Stearns, the present pastor, was installed 
October, 1897. 



XXX. 

MEMORIAL WINDOWS — METHODIST, CATHOLIC, EPISCOPAL AND BAPTIST 

CHURCHES. 

The first mention of a church organ in this town is in 
the Society's records, November 4, 1822, when it was 'voted 
to appoint a committee to solicit subscriptions to^ purchase 
an organ now offered the society.' Roys records this event 
in these words: 'Church organ procured 1822.' Mr. Nor- 
man Riggs distinctly remembered the day the first organ 
was set up in the church. It was brought here by Mr. 
Abiram Mills, who formerly had lived in the South End 
district. Mr. Mills took Normon Riggs, then a boy between 
six and seven years old, into the meeting-house to hear the 
new organ, which was to the little boy a great event, that 
made a lasting impression upon his memory. Miss Irene 
Battell, afterward Mrs. Professor Larned, was the first 
organist in the town, and played this organ for many years, 
until her marriage, when she went to reside in New Haven, 
and was greatly missed from her place here. 

In 1825 the Society's committee was authorized 'to re- 
move the pews each side of the organ and make slips in 
their stead for the convenience of the choir of singers, 
provided the expense to the society shall not exceed |12.' 

The writer well remembers this old organ, which in size 
was not much, if any, larger than an ordinary cabinet- 
organ of the present time, but was about six feet high, and 
had good, full, round organ tones. This first organ retained 



580 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

its place in the church until the winter of 1851-'52, being- 
used only a part of the time after Mrs. Larned's marriage. 
Miss Mary Birge was organist for a time, and it was the 
small boys' great delight, as well as that of the whole con- 
gregation, when Mrs. Lamed was in town, and took her 
old place at the organ, as she did occasionally. 

Soon after the removal from town of Dea. Darius 
Phelps, who for many years had been teacher of the singing- 
school, and a most efficient leader of the church choir, it 
was 'Voted to authorize Bobbins Battell to dispose of the 
old organ and to purchase a new organ.' This was in May, 
1852. At the same meeting it was 'Voted, to pay |50U to 
purchase a new organ.' The new organ then procured had 
been in use for a few years in an Episcopal Church in Pitts- 
tield. In 1893 it was sold to the 'Church of the Immaculate 
Conception' in this town, and when it was set up in that 
church some one remarked that 'that organ has changed 
its religion three times.' 

At a Society's meeting, Nov., 1852, it was "Voted, that 
the thanks of this Society be presented to Mr. Joseph 
Battell for his liberality in giving $200 toward the purchase 
of our organ, which cost |700." 

Mr. Robbins Battell was the organist for several years 
after this organ was in place. The floor of the gallery had 
to be lowered and two of the seats cut out to make room 
for this second organ, which, compared with the old one, 
seemed a monster, and did efficient service for forty years. 

In the year 1892, Miss Sarah B. Eldridge, the eldest 
daughter of Rev. Dr. Eldridge, made the very generous gift 
to the Congregational Church of this town of a fine Hook & 
Hastings organ, which was 'to be delivered and placed in 
the church next May.' During a part of June of 1892, ser- 
vices on Sunday were held in the chapel, 'on account of the 
work on the organ which is being put in by workmen from 
Hook and Hastings of Boston.' The organ gallery had to 
be again enlarged to receive this fine tone, powerful instru- 
ment, which has 808 pipes; 201 of them wood pipes and 607 
metal, and twenty or more stops. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 581 

At the annual meeting Nov. 7, 1892, the following resolu- 
tion was passed unanimously by a rising vote: — 'Whereas, 
Miss Sarah Eldridge has placed in the church and pre- 
sented to this Society a valuable Hook and Hastings organ, 
that greatly enriches the worship of the sanctuary; Re- 
solved, That there be placed in the minutes of this meeting 
a record of her generous gift, and that the thanks of this 
Society be tendered to Miss Eldridge for her thoughtful 
liberality/ 

Some of the organists, in addition to those already 
named, who have done efficient service in the Congrega- 
tional Church, most of them for a number of years, are: 
Mr. George Brown, a native of this town; Miss Sarah 
Eldridge, Miss Isabella Eldridge, Mrs. Ellen Battell 
Stoeckel, Miss Clara Lawrence, Miss Sawin, and the pres- 
ent incumbent. Miss Fales. 

MEMORIAL WINDOWS AND TABLETS. 

After the death of Dr. Eldridge, in the spring of 1875, 
followed by the death of Mrs. Eldridge, June, 1878, it was 
the desire of the famil}^ to place in the church some suit- 
able, adequate memorial of their parents. Their decision 
was to place in the rear of the pulpit, side by side, two 
memorial windows, and a marble memorial tablet at the 
side of the window. In order to carry out this plan an en- 
tire remodelling of that part of the building was necessary. 
An extension of some six feet in depth was built upon the 
Avest end of the church, and the original arch the entire 
length of the building, which had been shut out by the 
changes in 1846, was restored, the old pulpit and platform 
entirely removed and a larger platform erected. To re- 
ceive and properly place these beautiful memorial win- 
dows, which were ordered and made at the Royal Glass 
Works at Munich, and cause the interior of the old church 
to harmonize v/ith these windows, an entire change in the 
genqral appearance was made. Mr. J. Cleveland Cady of 
New York, the distinguished architect and writer, was 



582 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

consulted, and of his examination of the building, and of 
the changes that seemed necessary and were made, Mr. 
Cady has most kindly furnished the following account: — 

"On an occasion many years ago when I was visiting the late 
Bobbins Battell, lie took me into the Congregational Church to see 
what could be done in regax'd to harmonizing some rich stained 
glass windows, which had been purchased in Europe, with the 
rather formal Colonial architecture of the church. 

I was pleased with the quaint, pretty detail of the church, but 
surprised that its handsome columns and their capitals supported 
only the plainest and flattest of plaster ceilings. Mr curiosity was 
greatly excited, and I commenced an examination in the garret or 
loft, that led to the discovery that the church had originally a 
'barrel ceiling' which the columns carried;— that it was of a style 
entirely worthy and fitting the best portions of the church;— and 
that the greater part of it was intact! 

This discovery of a veritable 'antique' and one that would add 
so greatly to the beauty of the church was hailed with joy. 

It was faintly remembered by some that 'the ceiling used to be 
different,'- that it was supposed by dropping down the ceiling 'and 
taking out all the frills' it would be easier to warm, which consid- 
eration at the period when modern heating apparatus was un- 
known and the church was indifferently warmed by stoves was no 
small matter. 

Mr. Battell was quick to appreciate the value of the 'find,' and 
at once directed me to prepare plans for restoration of the ceiling 
to its former dignity. 

This involved not merely the removal of the false ceiling, but 
the careful search for scraps and bits of mouldings and detail, the 
most of which had been destroyed, and which I desired to restore 
exactly according to the original. The work was at length accom- 
plished, to the delight of those who appreciated the beauties of the 
old building, and its historical value. 

In regard to the memorial windows that have been mentioned, 
it was felt that they were somewhat rich to assimilate with the 
severe architecture of the church. 

The restoration of the vaulted ceiling, however, was an aid, as 
it took from the plainness of the interior, and relieved the hard 
straight lines. 

My solution of the problem was to build a screen against the 
wall back of the pulpit, whose columns, arches, and scroll work, 
while in architectural harmony with the general detail and style of 
the church, should give depth and richness about the new windows, 
and should in some degree dominate them. For this purpose the 



HISTOEY OF NORFOLK. 583 

columns were especially serviceable. The panels on either side 
were filled with memorial tablets which gave detail and interest, 
each step of the elaboration maliing more reasonable the richness 
of the European windows and assimilating them to the interior. 

The mahogany pulpit and fittings were designed in the 'old 
style,' but with considerable elaboration of detail the better to har- 
monize with the new windows. 

The aim in the whole 'renovation' was to be loyal to a fine his- 
toric old building, and not to spoil it by the intrusion of incongru- 
ous elements which in so many cases have completely ruined 
charming examples of Colonial work. 

These buildings represent times and people that have long 
passed. Their ideas and taste, brought mainly from England, in 
the days of the Kings,— have no small degree of refinement, and a 
certain reserA'e that we associate with the lives and characters of 
those days. It is a very distinct type, deserving to be carefully and 
sacredly preserved." 

These stained glass windows are most beautiful in every 
way: in design, in deep, rich coloring of the finest stained 
glass, and in workmanship are in the highest and most 
artistic style of the art. The inscription in the one upon 
the left, facing the pulpit, is: 

" HE THAT TURNETH MANY TO RIGHTEOUSNESS 
SHALL SHINE AS THE STARS FOREVER AND EVER. 

— JOSEPH ELDRIDGE." 

The inscription in the other: — 

"her children ARISE UP AND CALL HER BLESSED. 

— SARAH BATTELL ELDRIDGE." 

The inscription upon the marble memorial tablet at the 
left:— 

"IN MEMORY OF REVEREND JOSEPH ELDRIDGE, D. D., 
FOR FORTY-TWO YEARS, FROM 1832 TO 1874, THE FAITHFUL PASTOR OF 

THIS CHURCH. 

A LONG, SUCCESSFUL, UNFALTERING WORK, FULL OF 

WISDOM, POWER, TRUTH AND LOVE. 

KNOW YE NOT THAT THERE IS A PRINCE AND A GREAT MAN 

FALLEN IN ISRAEL."' 

Upon the memorial tablet on the right of the window 
in memory of Rev Ralph Emerson, which was placed there 



584 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

by Mrs. Urania Battell Humphrey, in remembrance of him 
as her early pastor, is this inscription : — 

"in grateful memory of reverend RALPH EMERSON, D.D., 

PASTOR OF THIS CHURCH FROM 1816 TO 1829. 

PROFESSOR IN ANDOVER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY FOR 

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS. 

BORN IN HOLLIS, N. H., AUGUST 18, 1787. 

DIED AT ROCKPORT, ILL., MAY 20, 1863. 

SEEK HIM THAT TURNETH THE SHADOW OF DEATH INTO THE MORNING. 

THE LORD IS HIS NAME." 

When the church was built, soon after the death of Rev. 
Mr. Bobbins, his daughter, Mrs. Sarah Battell, placed in 
the vestibule, over the center doors, a marble memorial 
tablet, bearing the inscription: — 

"HIM THAT OVEBCOMETH WILL I MAKE A PILLAR IN THE TEMPLE 
OF MY GOD. REV. AMMI RUHAMAH ROBBINS, FIRST PASTOR OF THIS 
CHURCH WAS REMOVED BY DEATH, SABBATH, THE 31ST DAY OF OCTOBER, 
1813, AGED 73, AFTER A PASTORATE OF FIFTY-TWO YEARS. TO THE 
CHURCH AND CONGREGATION OF THIS HOUSE THIS MEMORIAL OF THEIR 
LATE WORTHY PASTOR IS MOST AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED." 

This tablet remained in its original place until 1892, when it 
was placed in the front of the choir gallery, at the time a change 
was made, to receive the large, new organ, and there it remains. 

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church in this town was organ- 
ized in 1840. The original members of the church were 
Captain Auren Tibbals, Sheldon Tibbals and his wife, Mrs. 
Janette Tibbals, Franklin Bramble and his wife, Mrs. 
Amanda Bramble, Russell Pendleton and his wife, Mrs. 
Alwina Pendleton, Anson Gaylord and his wife, Mrs. Al- 
meda Gaylord. 

A large number of persons were at that time employed 
in the Woolen Factory, and several of them were members 
of the church at its organization, but not being permanent 
residents here their names have not been found. An un- 
fortunate neighborhood quarrel between two families, mem- 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 585 

bers of the Congregational Church here, brought three of 
the original members to enter into the organization of the 
Methodist Church, and to render material assistance in 
building their house of worship. The first Class Leader, 
who occupied that place for a number of years, was Mr. 
Kussell Pendleton. 

The first business meeting, where definite action was taken 
toward building a house of worship, where the Methodist Society 
was organized, was held at the house of Franklin Bramble,-the old 
grist-mill house.-December 8, 1840. A. Bushnell was chosen Moder- 
ator, Franklin Bramble, Clerk, and the following Board of Trustees 
of the Methodist Society was elected, viz: Auren Tibbals, Anson 
Gaylord, Sheldon Tibbals, .Toseph W. Hurlbutt, Russell Pendleton, 
David Vail and Franklin Bramble. 

It was voted. That we proceed to erect a house of public wor- 
ship for the use of said church soon as convenient. Auren Tibbals 
and Joseph W. Hurlbutt were made a committee to secure a site 
for the house. Auren Tibbals, Russell Pendleton and David Vail 
were chosen for the building committee, and Joseph W. Hurlbutt 
Treasurer and collector to solicit funds to build the house. 

The committee to secure a site for the meeting house moved 
promptly, as upon December 18, 1840, William P. ^^^\^lf'fjl 
the Board of Trustees of the Methodist Society a part of the land 
upon which the house was built, and the 25th of May followmg 
George Tobey deeded to them the south part of the lot;-tlie consid- 
eration in each deed being $70. During the summer of 1841 the 
house was built, 44 by 32 feet on the ground, with 21 foot posts,- 
finished with desk and slips below and a gallery nine feet wide n 
the front end, with slips. The house was located a few rods south 
S the r sidence of Mr. E. Grove Lawrence. The builder was Mr 
James Bradley of Goshen, and he was paid in full ^orfl^on^^l^t 
January 1 1842. by the building committee, as appears of record. 
Before the' building of this house the services were held princpaUy 
in the houses of some of the members living near the ^^ntre of ne 
town. Franklin Bramble, who at that time was runnmg the grist- 
mill, sometimes arranged seats in the granary of the mill, when it 
was not in use, and public worship was held in that V^^f^^^^^ 
times their services were held in the Conference room of the Con- 
gregational Society, but some members of that society objected 
and upon one occasion having assembled, the Methodists found the 
door of the 'Conference room' locked against them, and held their 
service under the horse-sheds near by. This action closing the 
doors against these Christian people when they needed and sought 



586 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

a place for divine -worship, was strongly condemned by some mem- 
bers of the Congregational Church, and some at least of those who 
helped to lock the doors lived to see things in a different light, and 
in later years entered heartily into the revival services in this 
Methodist Church. 

Something of a debt was incurred by the society in building 
their house, and in April, 1843, a committee to solicit funds to pay 
this debt was appointed for each part of the town, consisting of 
Franklin Bramble and Joseph W. Hurlbutt for the centre of the 
town, Charles B. Maltbie for the east part, Russell Pendleton for 
the north, Levi Barlow for the west, and James C. Swift for the 
south. 

The circuit preachers and resident ministers who have been lo- 
cated here, some for only a few months, and others for from one to 
three years, and one or more for five years, are as follows:— Rev- 
erends A. Bushuell, Daniel Coe, Levi Warner, J. Horton, Thomas 
Lodge, Lewis Gunn— Mr. Gunn was an ardent abolitionist, and by 
preaching strongly against the doctrine accepted by many Christian 
people of all denominations at that time, about 1844, that slavery 
was a divine institution, he offended some of the members of the 
church and congregation, and a considerable number of them with- 
drew for a time. Mr. Gunn was followed by T. C. Bancroft, Adee 
Vail, Theron Hollister, and in 1849-50 by Jonathan Robinson, dur- 
ing whose pastorate there were quite important revivals. He was 
followed by Isaac Lent, Abraham Davis, Mr. Jerrolds, W. E. Hill, 
J. Croft, David Lyman, son-in-law of Franklin Bramble, who was 
here some three years, Joseph Elliott, Ezra B. Pierce, who was here 
during the great revival in 1857 and '58 and assisted Dr. Eldridge 
at times in his church; Benjamin Wilsou, George C. Ezra, W. E. 
Clark, Philip Germond, Thomas Elliott, Samuel R. Free, Charles 
Sagur, I. Harris, Joseph Millett, J. B. Cross, J. C. Van Arnum, J. C. 
Ferguson, who was here a part of the year 1884 and went out to 
China as a missionary; Virgil Blackman, J. H. Hoag, Wm. H. 
Vaughn, F. J. Somers, James Douglas, E. C. Powell, W. J. Barnes, 
Elbert H. Todd, who was here from 1895 to 1900. Rev. J. A. Hurn 
is the present pastor. Intervals, sometimes of two or three years, 
have occurred when there has been no preaching in the church. At 
other times the church has seemed quite strong and prosperous. 

The material strength and growth of the church has been af- 
fected by the decline of the manufacturing interests in the town, 
and by the death and removal of the prominent members of the 
church, its main supporters both in spiritual and temporal affairs. 

One writer, referring to the different denominations of Chris- 
tians in this county in the early part of the 19th century says:— 
"In those days the Methodist and Congregational religionists had 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 587 

little more sympathy or intercourse with each other than the old 
Jews and Samaritans. The circuit rider came on his rounds and 
declaimed against 'steeple meeting houses, pitch-pipe singing, and 
the doctrine of election.' The membership kneeled on the floor in 
prayer, and gave vent to their devotional feelings by the loud 
'Amens,' or the 'Gloria Patri.' The women eschewed ribbons, 
curled hair, and gay dresses. The old men, and some of the young 
ones, wore straight-bodied coats, and both sexes wore a vinegar as- 
pect. 

The 'Presbyterians,' as they were termed, on the other hand, 
looked on the Methodists as interlopers and fanatics, who had come 
in to disturb the peace of the 'Standing order as by Saybrook plat- 
form established.' The Methodists were all Democrats;— the 'Stand- 
ing Order' were mainly high-toned Federalists of Pharisaical ten- 
dencies. The two had apparently no mutual sympathies, and never 
inter-communed with each other. Time and circumstances have 
worn away the prejudices and softened the asperities of the two 
denominations. Intermarriages have led to mutual forbearance. 
The temperance movement brought the best men and women of the 
two orders into co-operation, and the anti-slavery movement, fear- 
lessly advocated by the living Christianity of both churches was 
the death blow to sectarianism." 

Great changes in the form of worship have been made in the 
'Presbyterian,' or 'Congregational' churches in this town, as else- 
where, since the earlier days of its history. Mr. Salmon Swift, a 
native of this town, says: 'In the forepart of the nineteenth cen- 
tury the law requiring people to stand during prayers at church 
was repealed. Previous to its repeal my father, James Swift, was 
once tried for the infraction of the law in church in Norfolk. He 
arose with the rest at prayers, but was taken suddenly ill. To re- 
lieve the pain he sat down, leaning forward on his arms. A com- 
plaint was entered against him for a violation of the law. He was 
taken to the north part of the town a prisoner, tried before Esquire 
Holt and fined, the fine and costs amounting to between nineteen 
and twenty dollars.' 

CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. 

In "History of the Catholic Church in New England, Dio- 
cese of Hartford," is the following: — 

"IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH, NORFOLK." 

"The town of Norfolk was incorporated in 1758. It is the high- 
est land reached by railroad in Connecticut. The scenery in this 
vicinity is unsurpassed by any in New England. 



588 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

It is traditional among the Catholics of Norfolk that Bishop 
Cheverus of Boston visited here in the discharge of his missionary 
duties. This is not improbable, as in 1823 he made an extensive 
tour through the state. Another interesting tradition has a Father 
Plunkett of Boston as a visitor to Norfolk before 1829. 

The introduction of Catholicity into Norfolk as a part of the 
town's life dates from 1836. In March of that year Matthew, John 
and Charles Ryan, and Edward E. Ryan, a convert to the faith, 
settled here and engaged in the woolen industry. In this year Pat- 
rick Burke, father of the Rev. Charles E. Bin-ke of North Adams, 
Mass., established his home here. Mr. Burke was present at the 
first Mass known to have been said here. It was in 1836, Rev. 
James Fitton of Hartford officiating, in the home of Matthew 
Ryan, now occupied by Michael Whalen. About twelve persons 
assisted at the Mass. Father Fitton's extensive territory which 
must needs be visited, precluded frequent visits to Norfolk. The 
Ryan family, in the absence of the priest, proved faithful and wor- 
thy auxiliaries. In a room in the woolen mill they would gather 
the handful of Catholics, and in prayer petition the Giver of all 
gifts for the grace of perseverence. They practiced their devotions 
earnestly, faithfuly, and if Christ the Lord is in the midst of two 
or three gathered together in His name, we may well believe that 
in this little band were partakers of the divine favors. 

The successor of Father Fitton, the Rev. John Brady, also came 
to Norfolk when possible, and offered the Holy Sacrifice in the 
wool-sorting room, or at the house of John Ryan. Rev. John D. 
Brady, Rev. John Brady, Jr., and Rev. James Strain also exercised 
the ministry here, though their visits were necessarily infrequent, 
owing to the difficulties of travel. The old residents still speak of 
Father Brady's experience in being snow-bound for a week in 
Norfolk. 

The first Catholic marriage solemnized in Norfolk was that of 
Patrick Burke and Ann O'Neil, on October 9, 1842, the Rev. John 
D. Brady officiating. 

The generosity of the Ryans was not confined to providing a 
place for divine services. They also purchased a piece of land for 
cemetery purposes, which they transferred to the congregation. 
In this spot rest the remains of pioneers from all sections of the 
state. 

In 1846 the Catholics of Norfolk were attended by the Rev. 
Charles O'Reilly. On June 22d of that year he thus wrote, from 
Waterbury to Bishop Tyler: "Yesterday was my second Sunday 
here; the people seem anxious to have a church; the foundation is 
cleared, some brick are on the spot and almost as much cash on 
hand as will pay up to this time. But to commence building 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 589 

would require a considerable sum, which these people cannot pro- 
cure, except I become security, and I have had a considerable de- 
gree of I'epugnance at all times to have myself involved in money 
matters, and how to proceed I am really at a loss to know. Em- 
ployment in this locality is very precarious. . . . There is a 
great deal of labor and inconvenience in attending Norfolk and 
this place (Waterbury), there being no decent mode of travel be- 
tween them. A person must either go by Bridgeport or Hartford 
and stop a night in either place, as the stages do not run all the 
way on the same day, so that there is considerable expense in- 
curred and great loss of time. . . . The Norfolk people have 
made no move yet with regard to building. They seem content to 
have Mass, but I will not be content with saying Mass in a shanty." 

When Falls Village was organized in 1850 with Rev. Christo- 
pher Moore as the first pastor, Norfolk became its mission. On 
March 2, 1851, Bishop O'Reilly visited Norfolk and made arrange- 
ments for a church, and on the 31st of the same month he ap- 
pointed the Rev. Thomas Quinn to the pastoral charge of Norfolk 
and dependencies. Father Quinn's successor was the Rev. John 
Smith, who received his appointment to the Norfolk Mission on 
February 9, 1852. On this date Bishop O'Reilly wrote: "This is a 
most difficult mission." 

Under date of February 27 and 28, 1854, Bishop O'Reilly wrote 
in his Journal: "27th. Leave Winsted at 10 A. M. for Norfolk, 
where I arrive before noon and stop with Mr. Edward Ryan. I 
make this evening an arrangement with the Ryans for the build- 
ing of a church on the lot they presented me. This will be effected, 
I hope, next spring." 

"2Sth. Say Mass in Ryan's hall; it was full; published the reg- 
ulations for Lent. Said a few words to the people and left in 
Ryan's carriage for Falls Village, where I arrive at 11 A. M." 

In 1859 the Church of the Immaculate Conception was built, 
but in 1865 it had not yet been dedicated. In the meanwhile, the 
successors of Father Moore in Falls Village celebrated Mass and 
administered the sacraments over the store of Matthew Ryan, now 
occupied by M. N. Clark. 

In 1856 Norfolk was under the jurisdiction of Winsted, from 
which it was attended once a month. It so remained until the 
summer of 1889, when it was formed into an independent parish, 
with the Rev. P. Keating as the first pastor. At this time the 
Catholic population of Norfolk was 380 souls. Upon his arrival 
Father Keating secured apartments in the village, where he re- 
sided until the completion of the present commodious rectory. 

The work accomplished by Father Keating here is sufficient 
evidence of his activity. He graded the property about the church. 



590 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

which he remodeled and frescoed and adorned with new stained 
glass windows, beautiful Stations of the Cross and organ, all at an 
expenditure of $1400. In 1898 he purchased a lot for cemetery pur- 
poses, which was immediately paid for. 

In 1891 Father Keating began to atte^ Stanfield in the dio- 
cese of Springfield, at the request of Bishop O'Reilly. After two 
years of regular attendance he discontinued his visits, as nearly all 
of the Catholics had remoA^ed elsewhere. 

Much of the prosperity that has attended the parish of the Im- 
maculate Conception is due to the sturdy faith, the good example 
and the generosity of the Ryans. In practice they were Catholics 
as well as in name, and though more than half a century has 
elapsed since they moved upon the scene, the influence of their lives 
is still A'isible in their successors. Numerically small, the Catho- 
lics of Norfolk are strong of faith, and their devotion to religion 
was manifested by their donation to Bishop McMahon of the 
Tabernacle of the main altar of the cathedral." 

EPISCOPAL AND BAPTIST CHURCHES. 

An Episcopal Society was organized February 15, 1786, 
in the north part of this town, and included some men 
living in New Marlboro. The 'list' of this society 
was said to be over £500. Among the members living in 
Norfolk were John Phelps, Dr. Ephraim Guiteau, Samuel 
Northway, James Benedict and Stephen Kingsbury. The 
history of this Episcopal Society, further than the fact of 
its organization, the writer has been unable to leard. 

Among Norfolk's summer residents and others are a con- 
siderable number of Episcopalians, who for several years 
held Episcopal church services during the summer months 
in the town hall usually, but sometimes in the Methodist 
church. In the summer of 1893 Mr. Frederick M. Shepard 
gave a lot as a site for an Episcopal Church on Mills Ave- 
nue, not far from 'The Hillhurst.' 

"The ceremony of breaking ground for the Church of the 
Transfiguration took place Sunday, August 6, 1893, in the presence 
of 150 persons. 

On Sunday afternoon, June 24, 1894, a goodly number of the 
citizens and summer residents of the town assembled to witness 
the ceremony of laying the corner stone of the Episcopal church. 

The site of the building is picturesque and commanding, being 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 591 

on the corner of Mills and Shepard Avenues. The building, which 
is small but very neat, was erected under the direction of a New 
York architect by Mr. J. S. Levi, a contractor and builder of this 
town." 

BAPTIST CHURCH. 

For many years, near the middle of the century, there 
was a flourishing but not large Baptist Church and Society 
in the extreme north part of this town, their house of w^or- 
ship standing very near the Massachusetts line, on the New 
Marlboro road. In recent' years the 'old Baptist meeting- 
house' was torn down and a neat 'Union Chapel' built on 
about the same site. 



XXXI. 

CONCLUDING CHAPTER — MODERN NORFOLK. 

Marvellous changes everywhere, among all people and in 
all lands, have been wrought since Norfolk had a history, 
and these old hill towns, in common with all the world, 
have changed . Many decades ago, when the land was new, 
the farms were productive, the farmers generally were in- 
dustrious, frugal, prosperous. Most of the land on most 
of the farms in this town is by far too rocky to be plowed 
or in any way materially improved, save at very great ex- 
pense. As the years have gone by and the land has become 
old, thousands of acres have been taken possession of com- 
pletely by growths of ferns, brakes, red and yellow hard- 
hacks, white-birches, black-alders, elders and kindred nuis- 
ances. Grazing, stock raising, dairying to a great extent 
has been driven out. Young men, whole families from 
many of the out-parts of the town, have been driven to 
"pulling up and going to the everlasting West," . . . 
where, it has been said, "the farms have no features, — 
nothing to distinguish them," 

We have in a very imperfect manner been over many of 



592 HISTOEY OF NOKFOLK. 

the principal events in the town, covering a period of more 
than a century and a half. As those now standing here 
look about, we see in the Norfolk of today an entirely dif- 
ferent place from the Norfolk of even half a century ago. 
Not only the inhabitants, but also the place itself, has 
changed. The eternal hills remain the same. The centre 
of the town, by its little gem of a park, — its extensive pri- 
vate lawns, the fine modern public and private buildings, 
the Robbins School, the Library, the Gymnasium, and 
other features, has been rendered a very attractive and 
beautiful spot. In different parts of the town, upon a few 
of the many points where extensive views are obtained, 
fine, costly residences, with attractive surroundings, have 
been built, and during the summer months and into the 
autumn the town is very much alive. 

The era of manufacturing had its rise in the town, and 
as we have seen, to a considerable extent also, its fall. 

Looking for the causes of the great change and the sub- 
stantial improvement in the town during the past two or 
three decades, several things should be mentioned. 

One very important factor has been the building of the 
railroad through the town. This has been referred to at 
considerable length, and we should never cease to be thank- 
ful that the railroad went through, and in the right place. 

Perhaps the next thing in importance in giving the town 
a start, was calling the attention of a number of people of 
influence to the beautiful scenery, the great elevation, the 
purity of the air, and so the desirability of the town as a 
place for summer homes. In getting a start made in this 
direction, inducing people to come and make homes here, 
in opening up interesting places, and doing a great number 
of things to make the town attractive, doubtless no one 
did more, nor used a greater amount of influence, than Mr. 
Robbins Battell. 

THE ROBBINS SCHOOL. 

The founding of the Robbins School in 1884 by Mr. Robbins Bat- 
tell and his sister, Miss Anna Battell, has been a most important 



HISTOEY OF NORFOLK. 593 

factor and a substantial and permanent advantage and benefit to 
the town and vicinity. This school is the carrying out of a long- 
cherished project of establishing, upon the site of the old Robbins 
parsonage, in memory of Rev. Mr. Robbins, by two of his grand- 
children, a school, having for its main purpose the preparation of 
young men for the higher institutions of learning; for any American 
College or Scientific School; and offers to such as may wish to finish 
their school life here a liberal course of study. During most of his 
long pastorate of fifty-three years Rev. Mr. Robbins was accus- 
tomed to receive into his family a class of boys to be fitted for 
college, and he thus prepared more than two hundred young men, 
drawing his pupils from this and neighboring towns and from dis- 
tant places. 

It is pleasant to trace bacls the origin of the Robbins School to 
such a foundation. 

The commodious and substantial buildings of the Robbins 
School were erected in 1884 upon the site of the old 'Robbins House' 
and the adjoining grounds, after plans by Mr. J. Cleveland Cady, 
of New York. The buildings are heated by steam, and supplied 
with all the modern appliances, and the institution is liberally sus- 
tained by Mr. and Mrs. Carl Stoecliel. 

Another educational institution and substantial attrac- 
tion and advantage to the entire town and vicinity, which 
has for more than a decade been doing a vast amount of 
good, and whose beneficent influence is continually widen- 
ing, is the Norfolk Library, which will also be mentioned at 
some length. 

THE NORFOLK LIBRARY. 

Upon the first day of January, 1881, in the west room of Mr. 
George Scoville's house, a free reading room, containing the daily 
and other newspapers, magazines and periodicals of interest to the 
men and women, boys and girls of this community, was opened 
by Miss Isabella Eldridge, kept up by her in that place for several 
years and was the beginning of the splendid library and reading- 
room of today. 

For the sake of some readers who have not recently seen Nor- 
folk, it may not be amiss to state that this library building is 
situated east of the old Shepard Hotel, near the store; the old hotel 
barn and sheds having been long since removed, and their site made 
into a nice lawn. 

The building was designed by Mr. George Keller, a noted archi- 
tect of Hartford, Ct.; is eighty-six by forty-five feet upon the ground, 



594 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

two stories high; the lower story being of Longmeadow, Mass., red 
freestone, and the upper part of red tile. The roof is of fluted Span- 
ish tile, quite common in Europe but rare in Connecticut. The first 
floor contains a reception hall, a reading room, a conversation room, 
and the library room proper. This room, entered through the recep- 
tion room, fills the height and breadth of the entire building, and is 
•crowned with an imposing arch. 

The proportions throughout the building are perfect, the detail 
work well considered, and all the combinations and colors are 
chosen with much nicety of taste. As one enters the hall a fine 
bronze tablet upon the wall opposite meets the eye, with the inscrip- 
tion: 

IN REVERENT MEMORY 

OF 

JOSEPH AND SARAH ELDRIDGE. 

Work on the building was commenced early in 1888. It was 
constructed in a most thorough manner; was built and is sustained 
by Miss Isabella Eldridge as a memorial of her father and mother. 
The library has a capacity of 40,000 volumes; is open every day, 
Sunday excepted; free to every resident of Norfolk. Non residents 
also may avail themselves of its advantages, without charge, by 
special permission. Nothing that the most refined taste could sug- 
gest or that money could buy to make the place both beautiful and 
helpful is lacking. 

'Such a use of money indicates the highest wisdom, the most 
refined culture, and the sincerest regard for the welfare of the com- 
munity.' 

"The opening of the library occurred March 6th, 1889, more than 
one thousand invitations having been sent out, not only to every 
family in Norfolk of whatever name, nationality or color, but also 
to many in adjacent towns and acquaintances elsewhere. 

The large number of people present, the music, the brilliantly 
lighted rooms, with the happy social feeling, made it a most charm- 
ing occasion, calling out from every one present expressions of un- 
qualified praise." 

The libraiy opened with about 2,000 volumes upon its shelves, 
of which 1,250 were the gift of Rev. Azariah Eldridge of Yarmouth, 
Mass., the brother of Rev. Dr. Joseph Eldridge. What remained 
of the old 'Subscription Library' of the town (1866) was added, and 
from time to time other volumes from that old library found their 
way here; in all about 200 volumes, and also several volumes of 
the library of 1822. Other members of the family had at this 
time given about 150 volumes, mostly reference works, and Miss 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 595 

Isabella Eldridge had purchased for the library 1,050 volumes. 
The papers and periodicals which were in the old reading-room 
were transferred to the reading-room of the library building. 

The books upon the shelves have increased at the rate of over 
500 volumes a year, principally purchased by Miss Isabella 
Eldridge, and now there are upon the shelves of the library nearly 
eleven thousand volumes. Many volumes bear the names of those 
interested in the library, who have contributed to its growth and 
efficiency. In the reading-room there are fifty-seven newspapers 
and periodicals on file. The first report for a full year was made 
in 1891, when the librarian, Mr. Edward E. Swift, stated that 
22,008 visitors had been in the building, and that 10,942 volumes 
had been issued in circulation. These figures have grown steadily 
from year to year, until, during the year ending December 31, 
1898, there were 29,080 visitors and 14,604 volumes issued on cir- 
culation. This increase is due largely to the fact that Norfolk has 
become a very popular summer resort, and that many hundreds 
of strangers visit it during the summer and fall months. August 
is the busiest month of the year. The experiment of establishing 
branch libraries in the school-houses in the out districts has proved 
a success. The teachers have complete charge of the books, and 
renew or exchange whenever they wish. The library has in this 
way reached many families which might not otherwise have had 
the privilege of taking books from its shelves. The range of use- 
fulness has extended beyond the confines of the town, as borrowers 
come from Canaan Mountain, East Canaan, Colebrook, Winchester 
and Goshen. Who can begin to estimate the uplifting, refining, 
educating influence, or tell the vast power for good of this noble 
institution in this and the adjacent towns, not only to the young 
but to the old; to those who have borne the burden and heat of the 
day, and in the evening time of life have leisure for reading. That 
its worth is fairly estimated by those now enjoying its advantages, 
or that any acknowledgment or expression of gratitude to its muni- 
ficent founder and continued supporter is often made, is, perhaps, 
scarcely to be expected. Such advantages are often received, as 
are God's hourly gifts of air, water and sunlight, as a matter of 
course, with no thought of gratitude to the giver. 

Could we only stop and think of the debt we owe, we too, as 
certainly will the coming generations, would "rise up and call her 
blessed." 

Another of the modern institutions and attractions of 
the town, and one that now seems almost indispensable 
to many of the summer residents and guests, is 



596 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 



THE ELDRIDGE GYMNASIUM. 



One of tbe most artistic and elaborate structures for the purpose 
for which it is designed, to be found anywhere in the country, is the 
Eldridge Gymnasium, which stands on the high ground north and 
east of the railroad station in Norfolk. The grounds on the east 
side of the building, facing on Maple avenue, are laid out in tennis- 
courts, croquet, etc. On the west and south is an extensive lawn, 
filled with the finest of shrubs and flowers. The building, 78 by 47 
feet, stands upon a solid basement wall of granite, and is built of 
mottled and light colored Pompeiian, or Roman brick, which are 12 
inches long and 2 inches thick. The roof is of Spanish fluted tile in 
brown and yellow. The architect was Henry Rutgers Marshall of 
New York. The architecture is a mixture of Spanish and American, 
the Spanish feature being the very broad piazza on the west side 
with overhanging roof; the tile work is also Spanish. From this 
piazza, which is 12 feet wide, extending the entire length of the 
building, is had a most beautiful, unobstructed view to the north- 
west of the Canaan valley, with the Taconic range of mountains in 
the distance as a background. 

The gymnasium proper, 50 by 47 feet and 36 feet high, is 
equipped complete with the Sargent apparatus, and includes every- 
thing, from simple Indian clubs to parallel bars, rowing-machines 
and different appliances for developing the muscles. 

The sitting-room is beautifully finished and furnished, having a 
large and elaborately carved mantel of oak, with hand-carved 
mottoes in Latin, one of which, translated, reads, "One should 
desire a sound mind in a sound body." The front door is one of 
the finest specimens of marqueterie in the country. It is of oak, 
inlaid with mahogany, ebony and boxwood. The large hinges and 
escutcheons are of solid bronze, as well as the lamps in front, at 
the entrance, and on the porch. 

This beautiful, elaborate and expensive building was erected, 
furnished, equipped, is supported, and its use given free to the 
people of the town, either permanent residents or transient guests, 
by the munificent liberality of Miss Alice Bradford Eldridge, now 
Mrs. Henry H. Bridgman. 

The work was commenced in the fall of 1890; the building 
erected during the summer of 1891 and finished in the early summer 
of 1892, and, on the last Wednesday in June of that year, the 
doors were simply thrown wide open, and the public invited to a 
free use of all its equipments. 

The building is used for a variety of entertainments; church 
entertainments, athletic exhibitions, lectures, concerts, etc., and is 
a centre of attraction for summer-guests. An elaborate 'tennis 
tournament' is held annually at the height of 'the season,' upon the 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 597 

gymnasium grounds, which brings people together from near and 
from far, valuable prizes being given by Mrs. Bridgman. She also 
furnishes music every summer, for a month or six weeks, for a 
concert, every morning and. evening at the gymnasium, by some 
of the finest musicians from New Yorli and Hartford; a promenade 
concert one or two evenings each weeli being a feature during 'the 
season.' 

THE MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN. 

This fountain, which was erected by Miss Mary Eldridge in 
1SS9, in memory of her uncle, Mr. Joseph Battell, stands at the 
south end of the park. It is a beautiful, expensive, artistic piece 
of work. In carved granite, with bronze lamps and bronze ornamen- 
tation in the shape of swimming fish, through whose mouth the 
water pours. 

On the column, which is the central part of the structure, is 
this inscription: 

" IN MEMORY 

OF 

JOSEPH BATTELL, 

BORN IN NORFOLK, 1806, 

DIED IN NEW YORK, 1874." 

On the reverse side appears In small letters, 

"ERECTED BY HIS NIECE, 
MARY ELDRIDGE." 

Above the principal bowl, 

"ERECTED MDCCCLXXXIX." 

The whole structure is in the shape of a blunted triangle and 
forms a fitting end to this part of the park, which here comes 
nearly to a point. The water is conducted into the central pillar 
and then distributed into various basins. A lion's head, carved on 
the pillar, with opened mouth, spouts out water into the semi- 
circular bowl for horses, which is hollowed out of a huge block of 
Milford granite. 

In the rear of the pillar is a small court paved with brook 
pebbles, and at the end a solid stone seat with carved ends. 

The work was made from designs by Stanford White of New 
York, of Milford, Mass., granite. The column and ball are of 
Greek design, after a famous old Spanish fountain. 

THE VILLAGE HALL. 

The erection of this building, a few years since, by some of the 
enterprising public-spirited citizens of the town, furnishing not only 



598 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

a nice and commodious hall for various purposes, but locating the 
post office permanently, and making a business centre at a point 
convenient to the railroad station, is a substantial advantage to 
the town. 

THE NORFOLK DOWNS. 

Desiring to assist in making Norfolk attractive and an 
ideal place of resort for summer guests, and to furnish 
recreation to residents as well, the Misses Isabella and 
Mary Eldridge a few years since purchased an extensive 
tract of land, which was selected and laying out a course 
was supervised by Dr. Edward Cobb, a native of the town, 
forming a most desirable location for Golf Links. The land 
lies on 'the old road,' south from the Curtiss place, is part 
of the morain or glacial formation of this region, embrac- 
ing some of the kettle-holes and sand-knolls of that locality, 
and extends from that old road west and south to Tobey 
Pond. As a natural location for Golf Links this place, it 
is said, has few equals in the country, and by the necessary 
labor and expense has become an ideal spot for that at- 
tractive recreation. 

"The downs have been improved from year to year, until now 
they are regarded by the experts who have played over them as 
among the few real Scottish downs in the State. Part of the ex- 
pense of maintaining them is met by small annual dues received 
from the players and the rest is borne by the same public-spirited 
residents— the Misses Eldridge— whose generosity first made the 
course possible. Bounded on all sides but one by acres of woodland, 
the course rolls away for more than a mile in a series of tiny, 
picturesque hills and valleys. On nine of these hills at irregular 
intervals from each other are the "tees," and far from each of 
these in a somewhat inaccessible valley is its corresponding 
"green."— The Connecticut Magazine. 

NORFOLK'S WATER SUPPLY. 

The problem of supplying the town with an abundance of pure 
water was a difficult one. There are a large number of springs of 
pure water in different localities capable of furnishing one or two 
families with a supply for ordinary domestic purposes, provided 
springs can be found at a sufficient elevation, but the supply from 
this source is by no means equal to the demand in a village of any 
size, and in case of an emergency, as upon the breaking out of a 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 599 

fire, the want of an ample supply of water is painfully apparent. 
The old wells, which a century ago answered a purpose, such as the 
ones on the green, in front of the Shepard Hotel, or at the south 
end of the gi'een, not far from the fountain, or on the bank in 
front of the old Aiken-Dowd house or the Battell well, just north 
of the 'meeting-house,' where a cup used to be provided Sunday 
noons, so that the boys could quench their thirst and wash down 
their luncheons of dough-nuts and ginger-bread, all these and most 
of the other wells in town have fallen into 'innocuous desuetude.' 

In the latter '80s, when modern Norfolk had commenced to 
grow, the desirability of many locations for fine summer residences 
being apparent provided an ample water supply could be furnished, 
which, to people accustomed to city life, is a 'sine qua non,' this 
question was thoroughly investigated by a number of the citizens 
of the town. Various springs were examined, their capacity meas- 
ured, and plans considered for utilizing them, but were rejected as 
not feasible. A plan of bringing water from Tobey Pond, or from 
Pond Hill, was thoroughly considered, and although a supply from 
either of these sources would have been better than no supply, it 
was not considered ideal. 

The whole plan was opposed by some, who persisted in saying, 
"We don't want pond-water," etc. 

In 1893 the subject of a water supply was taken up by Mr. 
Frederick M. Shepard, who has always taken a deep interest in 
the progress and welfare of his native town. 

Lake Wangum, on Canaan mountain, had been investigated, its 
water analyzed, found to be exceptionally pure and desirable for 
domestic purposes; the supply practically unlimited, thus being as a 
source, ideal, but the great expense necessary in (bringing this water 
to Norfolk seemed an insurmountable obstacle. 

This beautiful lake is nearly 250 feet higber than the park; is 
one of the highest lakes in the State; is fed and maintained by large 
springs of uniform flow; its water shed is exceptionally small; its 
location most remarkable, being on the summit of the mountain, as 
only a mile west of it is the precipitous, ragged side of the mountain, 
falling in almost perpendicular descent for hundreds of feet to the 
Housatonic valley. The water from this ideal lake could not have 
been brought to this town in our day and generation liad it not 
been for the liberality and persistence of the promoter of the plan, 
whose name has already been given. 

In 1893 'The Norfolk Water Company' was incorporated and 
the construction of the system of water works commenced. 

Laying nearly eight miles of water pipe, twelve and ten-inch 
mains extending from the lake to the village, through Norfolk's 
glacier-polished ledges and immense boulders, a cut three-fifths of 



600 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

a. mile in length and twenty-two feet deep, through a granite ledge, 
with a combination of deep mud and quicksand, was an engineering 
achieA-ement of importance anywhere, at any time, and, in addition 
to the great expense, required sliill, tact, patience and perseverance. 
A gravity line from 'Lake Wangum to Norfolk was completed in 
the fall of 1896, furnishing water of a quality second to none and 
in quantity practically unlimited. 

SEWER DISTRICT. 

After the completion of the Water Works a Sewer District was 
formed and an adequate system of sewers was constructed for the 
entire village, as was necessary. This second great undertaking 
was completed in the summer of 1899. 

NEWSPAPERS. 

A few ventures have been made in recent years in publishing a 
newspaper in the town. The first was "The Summit," a small 
sheet, started and kept going for a time by Mr. B. F. Catlin. 

Mr. Frederick S. Spaulding, a native of this town, started the 
"Norfolk Tower" in 1888, which he edited with considerable ability 
and success until his untimely death in October, 1891. The paper 
soon afterward was transferred to Collinsville, and is now the 
"Farmington Valley Journal." For four or five years past a sum- 
mer paper, 'The Chimes,' has been edited and published by Mr. 
George A. Marvin and others; ten issues of a finely illustrated 
paper being made each season, which are a credit both to the 
publisher and the town. 

PHOTOGRAPHY. 

The reproduction of a great number of the beautiful views of 
Norfolk and vicinity by Mrs. J. C. Kendall our artistic photog- 
rapher, has assisted very materially in making Norfolk known 
widely. The work done by Mrs. Kendall, a great amount of it 
entirely unrequited, has been a more important item in the growth 
and development of modern Norfolk than many realize. The town 
has been rendered famous and given a national reputation by the 
fact that at the 'Columbian Exposition' at Chicago in 1893, 

"a medal for specific MERIT WAS AWARDED TO MRS. MARIE H. 
KENDALL, OF NORFOLK, CONT^., FOR AN EXHIBIT OF PHOTOGRAPHS, 
DISPLAYING PLEASING VARIETY AS TO SUBJECTS, ARTISTIC TASTE AND 
MARKED SKILL IN DEVELOPMENT AND FINISH, IN WHICH EXCELLENT 
CHOICE AND TRUE FEELING ARE SHOWN.'' 



HISTOKY OF NORFOLK. 



601 



SUMMER HOMES. 

'The Stevens' is pleasantly situated in tlie central part of the vil- 
lage; surrounded by lawns, verandas and fine shade trees. For 
eighteen years this house has enjoyed the reputation of being one 
of the best kept hostelries in New England. 

'The Hillhurst' is situated on a hill at the corner of 'Laurel 
Way' and 'Lovers' Lane,' 1,350 feet above the level of the sea, 
giving to this hotel a higher elevation than any other building of a 
like nature in the State, with beautiful and extensive views and 
the purest of air. 

THE NORFOLK CHIMES. 

On the accompanying page will be found the notes of the 
Chimes, after an old English Chime, as they are rung in the steeple 
of the old church in Norfolk every hour of the twenty-four. 



JRST QUARTER 
-0- 






IlSiIi 



xoND Quarter 






I r~ 



— r~T 



s: 






HiRD Quarter 

^ — 



git 



irz 



'T 



"^"W 



s: 



1 — 07- 



-1^- 



fourth Quarter 




t± 



1 \V^ 



rr 



1^^_"[ 



-Or 



-»' 



-» 



~i rr^ 



1 r 



-p. 



T ^ 



The words of the Chimes are the following: 



HOUR BELL 



DURING THE DAY. 



'Lord, through this horn- 
Be Thou our guide. 
That, by Thy power. 

No foot shall slide." 



DURING THE NIGHT. 

"Lord, through this night, 
Protect us still 
By Thy great might. 
From every ill." 



602 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

SUMMER RESIDENTS. 

Following are the names of a few of the residents of modern 
Norfolk: 

Professor F. J. Goodnow, Columbia College. 

Professor M. I. Pupin, Columbia College. 

Professor A. L. Frothingham, Princeton University. 

Dr. Gustave J. Stoeckel, Yale University. 

Professor F. S. Dennis, M. D., New York. 

Rev. J. C. Bliss, D. D., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Rev. Charles L. Thompson, D. D., New York. 

L. Duncan Bulkley, M. D., New York. 

Edward H. Peaslee, M. D., New York. 

Mr. Charles A. Spofford, New York. 

Mr. Richard W. Rogers, New York. 

Mr R. A. Dorman, New York. 

Mr. Frederick Wells Williams, New Haven. 

Mr. Eugene Smith, New York. 

Miss Anna Key Thompson, New York. 

Mr. D. H. Rowland, New York. 

Mr. Matthew Olarkson. 

Mr. Theodore L.yman, Hartford. 

Mr. William H. Moseley, New Haven. 

Mrs. Hattie L. Chamberlain, New Haven. 

Mrs. Charles J. Cole, Hartford. 

Mr. Charles M. Howard, New York. 

Mr. Frederick T. Howard, New York. 

Mr. William D. Windom, Washington, D. C. 

Mr. and Mrs. John Hooker (Isabella Beecher Hooker), Hartford. 

Mr. W. J. Ballard, New York. 

Rev. John DePeu, Bridgeport, Ct. 



i 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 



603 



NORFOLK'S NECROLOGY. 



LIST OF THE DEATHS OF THE MALE HEADS OF FAMILIES WHO LIVED 
AND DIED IN THIS TOWN. 



(From Roys' Histoey). 



Samuel Cowls, 

Samuel Comstock, 

Roswell Richards, 

Cornelius Brown, 

Isaac Pettibone, 

Bzekiel Wilcox, 

Jacob Holt and Levi Cowls, 

(buried in well,) 
Oliver Burr, 

Thomas Curtis, (in army,) 
Bushnel Knapp, (shot for deer,) 
Michael Humphrey, Esq. 
•Toseph Plumby, (drowned,) 
Samuel Gaylord, 
Abel Phelps, 
Eliakim Seward, 
Simeon Mills, 
Joseph Cowls, 
Reuben Seward, 
Jesse Tobey, 
Caleb Knapp, 
Bille Bishop, 
Joseph Mills, Deacon, 
Joseph Cady, 
Ebenezer Burr, 
Dudley Humphrey, Esq. 
Joshua Moses, 
Joel Grant, (well sweep,) 
Solomon Curtis, 
William Walter, 
Isa.ic Holt, jun. 
Samuel S. Butler, 
Elijah Grant, 
Stephen Walter, 
Daniel Cowls, 
Titus Brown, 
Benjamin Picket, 
Samuel Mills, Deacon, 
Eleazer Orvis, 



Died 




1762 


Isaac Holt, sen. 


1764 


Edmund Akins, Esq. 


1765 


Joseph Gaylord, 


1769 


Daniel Burr, 


1771 


Reuben Munger, 


1774 


Nathaniel Stevens, Esq. 




Obadiah Pease, 


1774 


Asahel Case, 


1775 


Edmund Brown, 


1776 


Philo Guiteau, 


1777 


Thomas Tibbals, 


1778 


Giles Pettibone, Esq. 


1778 


Titus Ives, 


1778 


Giles Pettibone, jun. 


1779 


John Turner, 


1782 


James Benedict, 


1782 


John Phelps, 


1782 


Samuel Pettibone, jun. 


1782 


Rev. A. R. Robbins, 


1788 


Jedediah Richards, 


1789 


Jacob Spalding, 


1789 


John Dowd, 


1792 


Francis Benedict, 


1793 


Levi Grant, 


1794 


Samuel Knapp, 


1794 


Dr. Ephraim Guiteau, 


1795 


Henry Akins, 


1796 


Samuel Pettibone, 


1796 


Jedediah Phelps, 


1796 


Agur Gaylord, 


1797 


Nathaniel Pease, 


1798 


Darius Phelps, 


1798 


Josiah Roys, 


1800 


Samuel Northway, 


1801 


Sylvanus Norton, 


1802 


Michael Mills, 


1804 


Joshua Moses, jun. 


1804 


Daniel Cone, 


1805 


Aaron Burr, 



Died 
1806 

1807 
1807 
1808 
1808 
1808 
1809 
1809 
1809 
1809 
1810 
1810 
1810 
1811 
1811 
1812 
1812 
1813 
1813 
1814 
1814 
1815 
1815 
aged 44, 1816 

90, 1816 

79, 1816 
86, 1816 
73, 1816 
60, 1817 
88, 1817 

91, 1818 
66, 1818 

80, 1818 
72, 1819 
78, 1820 
90, 1820 
58, 1820 
39, 1821 
71, 1821 



604 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 



Edward Gaylord, Dea. 

Jared Butler, Dea. 

George Tobey, 

Dudley Humphrey, 2, 

Joshua Nettleton, 

Samuel Knapp, 2d, 

Nathaniel Stevens, jun. 

Rice Gaylord, 

Timothy Gaylord, 

Thomas Tibbals, jun. 

Samuel Gaylord, 

Stephen Norton, 

Ebenezer Cowls, 

Amasa Cowls, jun. 

James Stannard. 

Joseph Hull, 

Deming T. Northway, 

Elizur Munger, 

Hopestill Welch, 

Moses Camp, 

John Camp, 

Levi Camp, 

Jeremiah W. Phelps, 

Elisha Hawley, 

Lewis Gaylord, 

Isaac Spalding, 

Nicholas Holt, 

Amasa Cowls, 

Josejlh Jones, 

Joseph Ferry, 

Benjamin Moses, 

Jonathan H. Pettibone, 

David W. Roys, 

Nath'l Roys, in 100th year, 

Malachi Humphrey, £ 

John Bradley, 

John Warner, 

Abiather Rogers, 

Ebenezer Norton, 

Rice Gaylord, jun. 

Israel Crissey, 

Ephraim Coy, 

Lemuel Akins, 

Luther Foot, 

Jonathan Brown, 

Eleazer Holt, Esq. 

Bzekiel Foster, 

William Nettleton, 

Moses Grant, 

Emmons Andrus, 

Thomas Hill, 

Charles Walter, 

Eden Mills, 

Miles Riggs, 

Seth Wilcox, 





DiBn 






Died 


78, 


1822 


Samuel Cone, Dea. 


51, 


1836 


76, 


1822 


Francis Bliss, 


44, 


1836 


77, 


1823 


Reuben Dean, 


85, 


1836 


8, 


1823 


Peter Freedom, 


63, 


1837 


83, 


1824 


Halsey Stevens, 


34, 


1837 


78, 


1824 


David Prisbee, Dea. 


87, 


1837 


57, 


1825 


Elias Knapp, 


02, 


1837 


87, 


1825 


Abijah Brown, 


56, 


1838 


90, 


1825 


Asher Smith, 


80, 


1838 


72, 


1820 


Andrew H. Smith, 


36, 


1838 


83, 


1826 


Albert Norton, 


21, 


1838 


86, 


1823 


William French, 


71, 


1838 


78, 


1827 


Luther N. Ailing, 


— , 


1839 


56, 


1827 


Gerry Grant, 


35, 


1839 


39, 


1827 


James Roys, 


71, 


1839 


74, 


1828 


David Gaylord, 


69, 


1839 


42, 


1828 


Stephen B. Treat, 


30, 


1839 


67, 


1828 


Asahel Case, 


84, 


1840 


87, 


1828 


James Rood, 


70, 


1840 


81, 


1828 


Samuel Knapp, 


72, 


1841 


56, 


1828 


Dr. Benjamin Calhoun, 


63, 


1841 


74, 


1830 


James Hotchkiss, 


50, 


1841 


70, 


1830 


Nathaniel Butler, 


60, 


1841 


83, 


1831 


Reuben Palmer, 


81, 


1841 


41, 


1831 


Jedediah White, 


91, 


1841 


50, 


1832 


James Peck, 


61, 


1841 


76, 


1832 


Joseph Battell, Esq. 


67, 


1841 


87, 


1832 


Aaron Case, 


70, 


1842 


S2, 


1832 


Mansfield White, 


47, 


1842 


90, 


1832 


Philemon Gaylord, 


76, 


1842 


34, 


1832 


Augustus Roys, 


52, 


1842 


30, 


1832 


Isaac N. Dowd, 


49, 


1842 


57, 


1832 


David Orvis, 


96, 


1843 


*ar, 


1832 


Elisaph Butler, 


75, 


1843 


09, 


1832 


John T. Warner, 


43, 


1843 


72, 


1832 


Joseph Rockwell, 


85, 


1843 


79, 


1833 


Stephen Norton, 


77, 


1843 


75, 


1833 


Reuben Gaylord, 


73, 


1843 


91, 


1833 


Ammi R. Robbins, 


76, 


1843 


48, 


1833 


Francis Benedict, jun. 


75, 


1844 


70, 


1833 


George M. Phelps. 


27, 


1844 


72, 


]834 


(Close of the Centennial 


yea 


r.) 


64, 


1834 


Titus Nettleton, 


75, 


1845 


74, 


1834 


Alden Miner, 


45, 


1845 


97, 


1834 


Reuben Brown, 


66, 


1845 


82, 


1835 


Rev. Asahel Gaylord, 


70, 


1845 


68, 


1835 


Levi Barlow, 


39, 


1845 


59, 


1835 


James Shepherd, 


71, 


1846 


70, 


1835 


Jarvis Garrit, 


48, 


1846 


28, 


1835 


William Dowd, 


37, 


1846 


93, 


1835 


John Smith, 


73, 


1846 


78, 


1836 


Thomas Curtis, 


61, 


1846 


72, 


1836 


Joseph Smith, 


95, 


1846 


88, 


1836 


Joseph Riggs, 


67, 


1846 


69, 


1836 


John Strong, 


87, 


1846 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 



605 



RECORD OF DEATHS IN NORFOLK. 



(FROM A Record Commenced en 1840 by Miss Marcia Lake, and Continued by 
Mrs. Benjamin W. Cbissby Until hkb Death in 1882). 



1S40. 
Feb. 



Mar. 
Maj- 



1841. 
Feb. 



Mar. 
Apr. 
May 

Aug. 
Nov. 



Dec. 

1842. 
Jan. 
Apr. 
May 
June 
July 

Aug. 



Sept. 
Nov. 

1S43. 
Feb. 



June 



Oct. 



1844. 
Feb. 

Apr. 



Mrs. Hannah Cowles, 57 

Mrs. Deming Northway, 51 

Mrs. Edmund Brown, 55 

Lyman Roys, 23 
Mrs. Hiram Mills, 



Mrs. Chatman, 26 

Mrs. Reuben Brown, 

Mrs. Keziah- Jones Newell, 

Mrs. Reuben Palmer, 

Mrs. Cotton, 

Mr. Bramble, 

Mr. Beckley, 

Mr. Gilbert. 

Mrs. Clark Walter, 

Clarissa Cone, 

George Heady, 

Mrs. Smith, 

Eunice Parrot, 

Hiram Cone, 

Maria Pettibone, 

Mrs. Warren Cone, 

Mrs. Humphrey, 

Mrs. Dowd, 

Mrs. Pendleton, 

Mrs. Gaylord, 

Mrs. Pendleton, 

Mrs. Confe, 

Miss Elizabeth Seward, 

Mrs. John Bradley, 

Mrs. Oliver Burr, 

Mrs. Morgan Root, 

Mrs. Giles Thompson, ~ 

Sarah Merwin, 17 

Mrs. Elue Tibbals, 83 

Mrs. Johnson. S3 

Flora Flancher, 63 

Fanny Gaylord, 19 

Mrs. Harman Riggs, 27 

Mrs. Howe, 

Mrs. David Prisbie, 

Mrs. Butler, 

Mrs. Electa Pettibone, 

INIrs. James Griswold, 

James Howe, 32 

Mrs. Ephraim Coy, 76 

Mrs. Beach, 69 



1844. 

Aug. 

Sept. 



Dec. 



Joseph Gaylord, 
Joseph Phelps, 
Julia Hotchkiss, 
Mrs. Joh.a,_Bar4en/ ' 
^MrsT Bradley Potter. 
Joseph Nettleton, 
Ann Jane Sage, 



1847. 
Jan. 



May 



iept. 



Nov. 

Dec. 

1S4S. 
Feb. 



18 
18 



10 





1845. 








Feb. 


Mrs. A. Phelps, 


58 




Mar. 


Mrs. Milo Dyke, 


34 


90 


May 


Mrs. Benedict, 








Mrs. Samuel Bigelow, 


46 




June 


Mrs. Benton, 


63 




Sept. 


Mrs. Anson Gaylord, 
Mrs. John Strong, 


40 


17 


Oct. 


Mrs. Seth G. Brown, 




18 


Nov. 


Flavel Loomis, 
Mrs. Hiram Roys, 


17 






Miss Eunice Welch, 


74 




1846. 






16 


Jan. 


Mrs. Orlo J. Wolcott, 


31 


27 


Feb. 


James Porter. 


17 






Mrs. Darius Phelps, 


87 






Mrs. Jeremiah Johnson, 


39 






Mrs. Noah Miner, 


71 




May 


Harriett M. Loomis, 


21 


76 




John Barden, 


33 


.^6 


June 


John Smith, 


75 


52 




Mrs. Robert A. Geer, 


37 




July 


John Hill, 


80 




Aug. 


Thomas Curtiss, 


CI 




Oct. 


Miss Marcia Lake, 


47 






Mrs. Hiram Mills, 


49 




Dec. 


Edwin Boot, 


27 


60 




Michael G. Mills. 


33 



Mrs. Lucy Hines, 21 

Stephen George, 51 

Mrs. Lois (Samuel) Knapp, 76 
Amos Baldwin, 68 

Mrs. Wilcox Phelps, G8 

Mrs. Warner, 

Asahel Smith, 21 

Mrs. Bethuel Phelps, 57 

Mrs. Matthew White, 86 

Mrs. Ichabod Parsons, 62 

Judge Augustus Pettibone, 82 
Harrison Holt, 27 



Mrs. John Nettleton, 



32 



606 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 



May 


Timothy Gaylord, 


73 






Levi Roberts, 


23 






Mrs. Stephen Norton, 


75 




July 


Augustus Pease, 


56 


Feb. 


All?. 


Abijah Stoddard, 


22 


Mar. 




Mrs. Hiram Roys, 


44 






Samuel Cone, 






Sept. 


Seth Thompson, 


65 


May 




George Mills. 


23 


June 




Helen Gaylord, 


18 






Oliver Burr, 


67 






Mrs. Bull, 


101 


Aug. 


Oct. 


Ann Eliza Knapp, 


26 






Jared Butler. 


70 


Sept. 




Truman Seymour, 


39 


Oct. 




Mrs. Holt, 


88 






Mrs. Heady, 


88 


1852. 


1849. 






Feb. 


Feb. 


Henry Curtiss, 


61 




Mar. 


Mrs. Victory, 


40 


May 


May 


William Brown, 


26 




July 


Mr. Scudder, 


40 


Dec. 




Mark Nettleton, 


45 




Aug. 


Wolcott Root, 




1853. 


Sept. 


Lawrence Mills, 


83 


Jan. 




Julia Ann Gaylord, 


29 




Nov. 


Charles Gaylord, 


33 


Feb. 




Mrs. John Sage, 


28 


Apr. 


Dec. 


Dr. Benjamin Welch, 


82 


June 


1850. 






July 


Jan. 


Capt. Benjamin Bigelow, 


81 




Feb. 


David Frisbie, 


65 


Aug. 




Mrs. Dunham, 


82 






Miss Lucy Camp, 


54 


Sept. 




Joseph Root, 


82 




Mar. 


Alexander Parsons, 


58 


Oct. 




Sheldon Tibbals. 


53 






Samuel Brown, 


77 


Dec. 


Apr. 


Mrs. Pliny Foot, 


58 


1854. 


June 


Mrs. Daniel Hotchliiss, 


53 


Feb. 




Mrs. Hiram Wheeler, 


38 


May 


July 


Timothy C. Gaylord, 


59 






Mrs. Billings, 


53 


July 




Daniel Roys, 


67 






Mrs. Burns, 


53 






John Hall, 


83 


Aug. 


Aug. 


Mrs. Albert Hart, 


31 


Sept. 


Sept. 


Miss Matilda Norton, 


39 




Oct. 


Mrs. Hannah-Crissey Dean 


77 


185.5. 




Mrs. Dr. Wm. W. Welch, 


28 


Jan. 


Dec. 


Benoni Mills. 


83 




1S51. 






Feb. 


Jan. 


Abram Day, 


42 


June 




John Ryan, 


48 






Mrs. Cordelia Morrice, 


43 





John Barden, 73 

Erastus Howe, 27 

James Whitehead, 28 

Frederick Camp, 50 

Elizabeth Yale, 23 

Mrs. Robbins Battell, 27 

Mrs. Coyle, 20 

Solomon Goodwin, 51 

Mrs. William French, 84 

Mrs. Phelps, 83 

Samuel Seymour, 81 

Alvin Norton, 69 

Mrs. David Sexton, 71 

Thomas Moses, 83 

Mrs. Asa Burr, 84 

Mrs. Clemens, 71 

Mrs. Irad Mills, 58 

Mrs. Mary Nettleton, 78 

Deacon Warren Cone, 63 

Asa Burr. 86 
Mrs. Wilcox, 

George Brown, 44 

Mrs. Stephen Tibbals, 67 
Mr. Shook, 

Preston Camp, 50 

Mrs. Michael F. Mills, 73 

Mrs. Harlow Roys, 41 

Mrs. Bellows, 50 

Mrs. Bliss, 83 

Mark Bigelow, 54 

Mrs. Pease Pettibone, 46 

Pease Pettibone, 50 

Mrs. Auren Roys, 82 

Mrs. William Oakley, 47 

Mrs. Thomas Calder. 83 

Henry Camp, 22 

Clark Walter. 86 

Mrs. Edward E. Ryan, 52 

Mrs. James Parritt, 79 

David Sexton, 80 

Mrs. Daniel Mills, 49 

John Humphrey, 53 
Ralph E. Burr (in Cala.), 23 

Mrs. Joseph Battell, 75 

Zalmon Parritt, 59 

Hiram Wheeler, 16 

Ebenezer Burr, 63 

George Rockwell, 61 

Stephen Holt, 96 
Mrs. Clara Hall. 
Mrs. Stephen Backman, 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 



607 



1855. 
Sept. 



Oct. 



Dec. 

1856. 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Apr. 
May 
Aug. 
Sept. 

Oct. 
Xov. 
1S.57. 
Feb. 
Apr. 
May 



June 
Aug. 

Sept. 

Oct. 

Dec. 

1858. 
Jan. 



Mar. 
Apr. 



June 
Sept. 



1839. 
Jan. 
Feb. 
May 
June 
July 

Aug. 
Sept. 



Dr. Auren Roys, 

Luther Butler, 

Dr. Erasmus Hugins, 

Perry Canfleld, 

Mrs. Merrills, 

Mrs. Margaret Stevens, 

Mrs. Joseph Root. 
Solomon Curtiss, 
Hiram Case, 
Mrs. Ebenezer Burr, 
Lemuel Bigelow, 
Mrs. Lewis Root, 
Miss Whitmore, 
Hawley Oakley, 
James Parritt, 
Samuel Bird, 

Mrs. Asa Robbins, 

Mr. Baldwin. 

Mrs. Josiah Hotchkiss, 

Mrs. Lewis, 

Mrs. Daniel Beardsley, 

Louis Roland, 

Esq. Michael P. Mills, 

Deacon Dudley Norton, 

Mrs. Joseph Rockwell, 

Love Miner, 

Mrs. Baldwin, 

Maria Brown, 

Deacon Noah Miner, 

Mrs. Amos Baldwin, 

Delia Watson. 
Mrs. Hotchkiss, 
Thomas Calder, 
Mrs. Richards, 
Hannah Hall, 
Solomon Cowles, 
Joshua Nelson Moses, 
William Cowles, 
Mrs. George Nettleton, 
Stephen Tibbals, 
Mrs. Obed Smith, 
Ann Green, 

Mr. Reed, 

Mrs. Edwin Canfleld, 
Hubert Beckley, 
Mrs. Lemuel Aiken, 
Mrs. Lyman Judd, 
Esq. Edmund Brown, 
Mrs. David Gaylord, 
Mrs. Frederick Cook, 
Mrs. Warner, 





1859. 






85 
69 


Dec. 
1S60. 


Nathan Smith, 


64 


31 


Jan. 


James Kinderland, 


33 


37 


Feb. 


Mrs. Benjamin Bigelow, 


94 


53 




Mrs. Augustus Pettibone, 


82 


64 


Apr. 


Milton Mills, 


71 




May 


Mrs. Sarah Grant, 


86 


80 




Mrs. Stephen Root, 


43 


60 




Henry Cobb, 


18 


44 


June 


Mrs. James Swift, 


77 


61 


July 


Mr. Roberson, 


59 


61 


Aug. 


John Orvis, 


72 


IS 


Sept. 


Mrs. Samuel Seymour, 


88 


91 




Ethan Pendleton, 


84 


77 




Daniel Cone. 


40 


82 


Oct. 


Eliza Spellraan, 


16 


28 




Mr. Merrills, 


59 




Nov. 


Mrs. Sally Rockwell, 


86 


82 




Miss Eliza French, 


57 


27 




Miss Ruth Pratt, 


56 


90 


Dec. 


Humphrey Smith, 


79 


89 




Capt. Augustus Phelps, 


80 


91 




Mrs. Abel Pendleton, 


42 


17 




Mrs. Seth Barden, 


37 


81 


1861. 


- - 




71 


Jan. 


Mrs. Clarissa Calhoun, 


81 


90 




Jared Curtiss, 


82 


81 




Emily Apley, 


61 


21 




Orrin Dorr. 


62 


22 


Feb. 


Mrs. Lucius Porter, 


30 


89 


May 


Philemon Curtiss Gaylord, 


60 


77 




Miss Susan Burr, 


76 




June 


Fanny E. Gardner, 


18 


23 


Aug. 


Jerusha P. Lawrence, 


19 


57 




Samuel Gaylord, 


71 


89 




Eli Stoddard, 


65 


82 


Sept. 


Mrs. James Shepard, 


82 


74 




Miss Alice Crissey, 


68 


79 




Samuel J. Mills (soldier), 


27 


57 




Russell Pendelton. 


22 


43 




Stephen Root, 


59 


56 


Oct. 


Eden Riggs, 


76 


77 




Mrs. James Burr. 


45 


28 


Dec. 


Mrs. John Miller, 


30 


75 


1862. 


Cornelius Collins, 


45 


33 


Jan. 


Mrs. Lucinda Hawley, 


72 


29 




Levi Pendleton, 


27 


16 


Feb. 


Mrs. Nathaniel Butler, 


78 


70 




Miss Maria Bliss. 


66 


57 


Mar. 


Mary O'Brien, 


72 


87 




James Thompson, 


24 


72 




Halsey Robert (soldier), 


25 


61 




Willard Evans (soldier). 


27 


86 




Luther M. Camp, 


37 



608 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 



1862. 
Apr. 



May 

Jnne 
Aug. 

July 

Sept. 



Albert Bailey (soldier), 
Edward J. Humphrey (sol 

dier), 
John W. Peck (soldier), 
Betsey Healey, 
John Peck, 
Frank Remington, 
Mrs. Polly Humphrey, 
Marcus Lewis, 
Timothy Ryan (soldier), 
Theodore S. Bates (soldier), 18 
Beuj. J. Beach (soldier), 24 
Theodore Parritt (soldier), 20 
William Cogswell (soldier), 28 
George W. Cobb (soldier), 23 





1864. 


19 




- 


May 


26 




26 


June 


74 




55 




27 




82 


Aug. 


51 




28 


Sept. 


18 


Oct. 





Capt. Henry Porter, 


75 




Nov. 


Mrs. Harriet Hubbard, 


71 


Nov. 




Mrs. Eli^zabeth Barden, 


59 




... 


"^h Camp, 


77 






Mrs. Egbert T. Butler, 


47 


Dec. 


Dec. 


Miss Sarah A. Stevens, 


23 


1865. 




Charles Keyes (soldier), 


18 


Jan. 


1863. 








Feb. 


Mrs. Bushnell Knapp, 


75 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Mrs. Levi Shepard, 


78 




May 


John Snyder, 


SO 






Mrs. John Snyder, 


76 






Smith Hinman (soldier). 


59 


Apr. 


July 


Mrs. Frank Parritt, 


32 




Aug. 


Frank Parritt, 


37 




Sept. 


Mrs. Levi Howe, 


59 


May 




Willis H. Tyrrell (soldier), 


27 






Schuyler B. Pendleton (sol- 


Sept. 




dier). 


23 






Lockwood Knapp, 


56 


Oct. 




Mrs. Cook, 


68 




Nov. 


Hiram D. Gaylord (sol- 


Dec. 




dier). 


24 


1S66. 


Dec. 


Mrs. Sally Loveland, 


7.S 


Jan. 




Mrs. Fidelia Canfiekl 01m- 




Mar. 




stead. 


24 


Apr. 




Frederick Cook, 


78 


June 




Ellen Ryan, 


18 


July 


1864. 






Sept. 


Jan. 


Mrs. Peter De Mars, 


21 


Oct. 


Feb. 


Nathan Rider, 


47 






Mrs. Joseph Riggs, 


75 


Nov. 


Mar. 


Mrs. Vosburg, 


87 




Apr. 


Damon Pendleton (soldier). 


22 






John Dickey, 


30 


Dec. 




Daniel Beardsley, 




1867. 




99 years and S mos. 


Jan. 



Mrs. Robert Hedger, 53 

Peter Curtiss, 49 

Earl P. Pease, 86 



Daniel White, 02 

Salmon Richards, 70 

Robert Hedger, .jS 
Adjutant Samuel C. Bar- 

num (soldier), 26 

Elizar Maltbie (soldier), 56 
Mrs. Richard Beckley, 

Mrs. Thomas Hogan, 41 

Deacon Amos Pettibone, 78 

John Heady, 74 

George Bennett, 27 

Joseph Robinson (soldier), 20 
George Pendleton (soldier), 23 
Mrs. Timothy Humphrey, 

Benjamin W. Crissey, 73 

Mrs. Julia Rider, 35 

Warren L. Brown, 47 

Mrs. Curtis B. Hatch, 31 

Irad Mills, 72 

Wilcox Phelps, 86 

Mary Thompson, 23 

Mrs. Dickey, 73 

Jacob Watson, 71 

Miss Eunice Norton, 27 
Mrs. John Smith, 

Mrs. Timothy Gaylord, 70 

Mrs. Ira Pettibone, 64 

John Sage, 75 

Theodore Ailing, 36 

Mrs. Samuel Seyinour, 61 
Mrs. Mundrue, 

Capt. Hiram Gaylord, 70 

Oliver Burr Butler. 74 

Elon Maltbie, 83 

Miss Anna Canfield, 22 

Mrs. Oliver Hotchkiss, 82 

Mrs. Anson Norton, 77 

Mrs. Ralph I. Crissey, 32 

Mr. Riley, 75 

Mrs. Eden Riggs, SO 

Miss Sarah Brown, 55 

Silas Burr, 72 

Mrs. Olive Curtiss, 89 

Pliny Foot, 77 

Miss Nancy Humphrey, 74 

Ichabod Parsons. 71 

Hiram J. Norton, 44 

Joseph Hamant, 35 

Mrs. Jedediah Phelps, 72 

Samuel Johnson, 77 

Benjamin Spellman, 18 

George Spellman, 22 



HISTOEY OF NORFOLK. 



609 



1867. 






1870. 


Jan. 


Mrs. Henry Bennett. 




Jan. 


Apr. 


Mrs. Dudley Norton, 


84 


Veh. 


May 


Daniel H. Burr, 


31 




June 


Amanda Van Ness, 


58 






Mrs. Watson. 


52 




Aug. 


Mrs. Henry Porter, 


72 


May 


Sept. 


Mrs. Benjamin Welch, 


80 


June 




Charles Seymour, 


22 




Get. 


Mary Gaylord, 


44 


Aug. 




Josephine Seymour, 


19 






Patrick Crow, 


32 




Dec. 


Mrs. Timothy Gaylord, 


83 


Sept. 




Isaac Norton, 


57 






Mrs. Reuben Gaylord, 


93 


Oct. 


1868. 


Simeon White, 


78 


Nov. 


Jan. 


Miss Susan Pettibone, 


72 


Dec. 




James Swift, 


94 




Mrs. Margaret Nettleton, 


80 




Feb. 


Hubert L. Ives, 


34 






Mrs. Egleston, 


86 






Clorinda Freedom, 


64 


1871. 




Mrs. James French, 


23 


Feb. 


Apr. 


Edmund Thompson, 


25 






Mrs. Stanard. 


75 


Mar. 


July 


Deacon Philo Hawley, 


74 


Apr. 


Aug. 


Jedediah Phelps, 


82 


May 




Mrs. Nathan Green, 


81 




Sept. 


Major Bushnell Knapp, 


91 




Oct. 


Nathan Green, 


80 


Aug. 


Nov. 


James Humphrey, 


30 






Mrs. Elijah Loomis, 


67 


Sept. 




Robert Bigelow, 


71 


Oct. 




Miss Anna Curtiss, 


85 






Mrs. Alson Andrus, 


59 


Dec. 




Mrs. Nathan Barden, 


38 






Oliver Hotchkiss, 


86 




Dec. 


Thomas Donahoe, 


24 




1869. 






1872. 


Jan. 


Irene Van Ness, 


24 


Jan. 


June 


Richard Beckley, 


67 






Mrs. Humphrey Dewell, 


38 






Mrs. Isaac Norton, 


60 


Feb. 


Aug. 


Robert Peck, 


86 


Apr. 




Mrs. Abel Pendleton, 


51 


June 


Sept. 


Mrs. Philip Ryan, 


40 




Oct. 


Mrs. Orsemus Roberts, 


72 


July 




Mrs. Solomon Cowles, 


84 






Lauren Tibbals, 


55 






Mrs. Patrick Murray, 


71 


Aug. 


Nov. 


William Thompson, 


19 


Oct. 


Dec. 


Mrs. Benjamin Moses, 


61 


Dee. 




Timothy O'Connor, 


53 





1870. 
Jan. 



Mrs. Patrick Crow, 



28 



Orsemus Roberts, 72 

Mrs. Freeman. 84 

William Ryan, 21 
Matthew Sullivan. 

99 years 5 mos. 

Mrs. Daniel Hotchkiss, 59 

William K. Peck, sen., 72 

Mrs. Obadiah Smith, 41 

Theodore Hall, 37 

Mrs. Philemon Johnson, 49 

Robert Brown, 60 

Mrs. Seymour Bradley, 92 

Harry M. Grant. 64 

Alexander Allen. 55 

Burr Oakley, 34 
Russell Pendleton, 

David Lewis Dowd, 70 

Samuel Seymour, 70 
Mrs. James Kinderland. 

Giles Thompson, 90 

Appleton Stannard, 54 

John Barry, 56 

Miss Eunice Pettibone, 81 

Robert Holt, 16 

Stephen Backman, 41 

Zerah Babbitt, 85 

Miss Dewell, 67 

Mrs. Olds, 29 

Chauncey Heady, 41 

Mrs. Hiram Mills, 63 

Capt. John Dewell, 76 

James Rhodes, 43 

Fi-anklin Bramble, 71 
Deacon James M. Cowles, 64 

Mrs. Zalmon Parritt, 72 

Mrs. Bilhah Freedom. 89 

Mrs. Ichabod Parsons, 82 

Samuel Shepard, 58 

Clark Heady, 53 

Mrs. David Lyman, 46 

Thomas S. Curtiss, 50 
Mrs. Elizabeth Gilbert 

Wilson, 22 

Moses Pierce, 81 

Mrs. Jesse Hawley, 72 

Joel Beach. 71 

Jennie Cook, 17 

Seth Barden, 49 

Chauncey Gaylord, 75 

Calvin Sage, 76 

Mrs. Lemuel Case, 33 

Miss Mary Norton, 39 



610 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 



1873. 
Jan. 
Mar. 

Apr. 

June 



Sept. 

Nov. 
Dec. 

1874. 
Jan. 

Feb. 

Mar. 

Apr. 

May 

July 
Aug. 
Nov. 

1875. 
Jan. 

Feb. 

Mar. 
Apr. 
May 

June 

Aug. 

Sept. 



Oct. 
Nov. 



Dec. 



Mrs. Humphrey Smith, 
Mrs. Philo Smith, 
Mrs. Ann Piatt, 
Aaron Keyes, 
Annie Ryan. 
Miss Abel Camp, 
Ira Decker, 
Nathaniel Butler, 
Mrs. Elon Maltbie, 
Miss Abigail Brown, 
Mrs. Aaron Peck, 
Henry T. Curtiss, 
Benjamin Welch, M. D. 
Seth G. Brown, 
Mrs. Mark Bigelow, 



Mrs. Thomas S. Curtiss, 
Mrs. Norman Riggs, 
Mrs. Hobart Pendleton, 
Josephine Brown, 
George P. Grant, 
Francis Holt, 
John Benedict, 
Harvey Stillman Tibbals, 
Mrs. Chauncey Crosley, 
Timothy Gaylord, 
Joseph Battell, 
Nellie M. Stillman, 
Mrs. Aaron Gilbert, 
Stephen J. Holt, 

Horace Munson, 

Mrs. Almira Gaylord, 

Cassius Keyes, 

Mrs. Eunice Geer Sheldon, 

Erastus Smith, 

Rev. Joseph Bldridge, D. D. 71 

Halsey Bigelow, 

Mrs. Alfred Swathel, 

Harry Smith, 

Edmund Binks, 

Noah Miner, 

Mrs. Whiting, 

Mrs. Charles Decker, 

Harry Hines. 

Mrs. Palmer, 

Mrs. Samuel Johnson, 

James C. Swift, 

Anson Couch, 

Mrs. Charles Cobb, 

Mrs. Joseph Bassett, 

Mrs. E. Grove Lawrence, 

Mrs. Benjamin Welch, Jr. 70 





1876. 


72 


Feb. 


75 




76 




54 


Mar. 


36 


Apr. 


53 




77 




19 


May 


87 




47 




33 


Oct. 


23 




77 


Dec. 


67 




74 


1877. 




Jan. 


50 


Feb. 


48 


Apr. 


60 


May 


20 




25 




79 




84 


June 


51 


July 


46 




78 




68 


Sept. 


20 




61 




80 




83 
81 


Nov. 


27 




85 
71 


Dec. 


78 


1878. 


63 


Jan. 


77 




21 


Mar. 


44 




78 


Apr. 


31 


May 


70 


June 


78 




82 




69 




80 


Oct. 


56 


Nov. 


53 




69 


Dec. 



Mrs. Julia (Amos) Petti- 
bone, 89 
Giles Pettibone Thompson, 67 
David Brown, 39 
Mrs. Woodward, 97 
Joseph Parsons, 25 
Henry Clark, 47 
Mrs. Zerah Babbitt, 88 
Mrs. Curtiss Gaylord, 70 
Mrs. Alexander Parsons, 86 
Mrs. Horace Humphrey, 67 
William J. Tyrrell, 37 
Mrs. John H. Welch, 47 
Elijah Loomis, 84 

Orrin Wood, 75 

Mrs. Edward L. Gaylord, 34 

Henry Johnson, 49 

John Wessenberg, 49 

Mrs. Irene Battelle Larned, 65 



Mrs. Alexander Allen, 


61 


Victor Alvergnat, 


48 


Mrs. James M. Cowles, 


68 


Mrs. Earl P. Hawley, 


85 


Mrs. Almira Pease, 


80 


Mrs. Almira Smith, 


75 


Theodore Brown, 




Mrs. Charlotte Huntley, 


60 


Levi Holmes, 




Mrs. Eunice Smith, 


63 


Thomas Trumbull Cowles, 


73 


Mrs. Truman Hart, 


91 


Everett Smith, 


23 


Philo Smith, 


83 


Miss Hattie Butler, 


24 


Mrs. DeWolf, 


86 


Henry Bennett, 


71 



Margaret Ryan, 
Mrs. Constant Youngs, 
Mrs. Abijah Hall, 
Mrs. Timothy C. Gaylord, 
Mrs. Williams, 
Mrs. Theresa Terrett, 
Maxon Rogers, 
Mrs. Sarah Battell Bl- 
dridge, 
Christopher Corbally, 
Mrs. Hiram Gaylord, 
Hubbard Kellogg, 
Miles Smith, 
Harvey W. Johnson, 
Charles H, Mills, 



76 
59 
76 
80 
79 
46 
79 



47 
82 
78 
57 
28 
52 





HISTORY OF NO 


1879. 






1881. 


Mar. 


Miles Riggs, 


60 


Dec. 


Apr. 


Miss Emeline Linsley, 


60 






Mrs. Eli Camp, 


95 






Mrs. Matthew P. Bell. 


74 


1882. 


June 


Alexander Cubeley, 


67 


Jan. 


July 


John Norris, 


72 


Feb. 




Heman Swift, 


75 




Aug. 


Mrs. Silas Bui-r, 


72 






Mrs. B. G. Stocking, 


30 


Apr. 




Stephen Harlow Brown, 


SO 






Constant Young, 


63 




Oct. 


Hiram Johnson, 


26 


June 




Matthew P. Bell, 


73 




Dec. 


Mrs. Anson Couch, 


82 


Sept. 


1880. 








Jan. 


Samuel Smith, 


72 


Oct. 




Mrs. Hubbard Kellogg, 


72 


1883. 




Mrs. Matthew Ryan, 


70 


Mar. 


Feb. 


Miss Polly Burr, 


75 






Miss Mary Bell, 


84 




Mar. 


Miss Philey Beach, 


84 






Orlo H. Wolcott, 


41 






Miss Harriet Holt, 


94 


Apr. 


Apr. 


Miss Almiris Holt, 


84 






Miss Flora Bell, 


82 






Levi Sheuard, 95 years 6 


mos. 


May 




Anson Norton, 90 years 7 


mos. 




Maj 


Dea. James Mars, 


90 


Nov. 


June 


Miss Lucy Curtiss, 


87 


1884. 


Aug. 


Matthew Ryan, 


79 


Feb. 




Charles M. Ryan, 


48 




Sept. 


Anson Gaylord, 


80 






Dea. Abijah Hall, 


82 


Mar. 




Mrs. Erastus Smith, 


86 


Apr. 




Mrs. John Heady, 


84 


May 




Mrs. Luther Butler, 


89 




Oct. 


Mrs. Daniel White, 


74 


June 




Lemuel Aikens, M. D. 


53 


Sept. 


Nov. 


Samuel Curtiss, 


23 




Dec. 


John Kerby, 


53 


Oct. 


1881. 






Nov. 


Jan. 


Mrs. Seth Preston, 


95 






"William J. Norton, 


66 


1885. 


Mar. 


Samuel Sheldon Camp, 


80 


Feb. 




Matthew Jackman, 


75 




Apr. 


Miss Anna B. Grant, 


69 




July 


Giles Robinson, 


60 






Harry M. Grant, 


20 


Mar. 


Aug. 


James Burr, 


65 






Mrs. Tracey, 


77 






Alfred Swathel, 


75 


Apr. 




Mrs. Ralph I. Crissey, 


53 


May 


Sept. 


Samuel D. Northway, 


62 






Miss Rosa Jackson. 


21 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Hiram Mills, 


86 





611 



Mrs. Frederick A. Spauld- 

ing, 
Frederick G. Bell, 



72 
44 



Daniel Hotchkiss, 82 

Dea. James Humphrey, 69 
Mrs. Benjamin W. Crissey, So 

Mrs. John Gingell, 42 

Capt. Auren Tibbals, 91 

Abel Pendleton, 71 

Matthew O'Brien, 83 

Sarah A. Grant. 26 

Mrs. Preston Miner, 81 

Capt. John A. Shepard, 81 

Solomon Freeman, Jr. 28 

Austin A. Spaulding, 63 

Charlotte L. Butler, 15 

Sarah M. Loveland, .58 

Thomas O'Connor, 41 

Mrs. Charlotte T. Lewis, 45 

Cornelia S. Crissey, 17 

Mrs. John A. Shepard, 79 

Miss Polly French, 74 

Alfred Apley, 70 

Mrs. Philip Robinson, 63 

William Stanton, 48 

Mary Swift, 71 

Mrs. Charles J. Leaven- 
worth, 62 
Warren Johnson, 63 
Mrs. Linus Gillett, 63 
Mrs. Phimb Brown, 49 
Mrs. Desiah P. Stevens, 80 
Mrs. Whalen, 85 
Elizur Dowd, 86 
Mrs. Mary Boynton, 57 
Mrs. Margaret Hine, 74 
Ellen Donahue. 27 
Arthur Canfleld, 28 
Mrs. Hiram Wheeler, 70 

Horace Humphrey, 78 

William O'Brien, 56 

Mrs. Eunice Wood, 79 

Thomas Sullivan, 84 

Mrs. Rosanna Hubbard, 71 

Harvey Johnson, 57 

Henry Pendleton, 71 

Ralph Brown, 64 

Mrs. Stephen Backman, 52 

Mrs. James Humphrey, 71 

Miss Elizabeth C. Gaylord, 42 

David Moulton, 51 



612 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 



1885. 






1889. 


Dec. 


Jonathan H. P. Stevens 


, 


Dec. 




M. D. 


54 


1890. 


1886. 






Jan. 


Jan. 


Mrs. Lorinda Smith, 


84 






George Horseley, 


73 






Piralta Hamilton, 


76 


Feb. 




Mrs. William E. Bassett, 


50 


Mar. 


Mar. 


Mrs. Jedida Humphrey, 


96 






Joseph Ryals, 


68 




Apr. 


Ransford Dowd, 


55 


Apr. 




Robert Hine, 


48 




June 


A. P. Doyle, 


59 






Thomas Costello, 


29 


May 


Sept. 


Mrs. Joseph Hamant, 


55 


June 




Miss Fields, 


61 




Nov. 


Miss Harriet Brown, 


58 






Mrs. Eliza Barry, 


55 






Mrs. Matthew O'Brien, 


88 


Aug. 




Mrs. Betsey Camp, 


83 


Sept. 




Robert Colbert, 


74 




1887. 






Oct. 


Feb. 


Rev. John WickliCE Beach, 


44 






Aaron Gilbert, 


81 


Nov. 




William Stevens, 


20 


Dec. 


Apr. 


Charles N. Taylor, 


63 




May 


Mrs. Joel Beach, 


79 




Oct. 


Margaret Kennedy, 


45 


1S91. 




Mrs. Ann M. Bigelow, 


53 


Jan. 


Dec. 


Mrs. Mary Fields, 


57 


Mar. 




Mrs. Emeline S. Ballard, 


68 


Apr. 




Mrs. Jane E. Ludlow, 


62 




1888. 






May 


Feb. 


Christian Willms, 


67 




Mar. 


Mrs. Stephen H. Brown, 


88 


June 


May 


Frank Murray, 


74 




June 


Mrs. Sidney Tyrrell, 


69 




Sept. 


Miss Diantha Burr, 


93 


Aug. 


Nov. 


Mrs. Adelaide S. Brown, 


43 






Samuel S. Vail, 


75 


Sept. 


Dec. 


Robert A. Geer. 


82 


Oct. 




Hannah Jennings, 


75 


Nov. 


1889. 






Dec. 


Mar. 


Albert S. Hart. 


68 






Miss Sarah Curtiss, 


70 


1892. 


Apr. 


Mrs. Maria E. Coggswell, 


33 


Jan. 




Zebediah T. Adams. 


69 






Mrs. Emeline Rice, 


59 




May 


Mrs. Caroline Jacqua, 


75 




Aug. 


Mrs. Mary Roberts, 


72 


Feb. 




Robert B. Stack, 


47 




Sept. 


William E. Higgins, 


18 


Mar. 




William Morgan, 


53 






Mrs. Polly S. Root, 


86 




Nov. 


Mrs. Mary E. Wallen, 


31 


Apr. 


Dec. 


Jeremiah T. O'Connell, 


54 





Miss Anna Battell, 73 

Edmund Dillon, 79 

Mrs. Anna Torrent, 48 

John Kennedy, 15 

Jason M. Roberts. 62 

James F. Corbally, 16 

John McCarty, 29 

Solomon Freeman, 76 

Lewis H. Hines, 46 

Mrs. Mary J. Smith, 30 

Philip Robinson, 77 
Mrs. Caroline H. Johnson, 68 

Dr. Edward F. Root, 71 

Charles S. Case. 35 

Catharine O'Connor, 46 

Scott J. Beach, 39 

Louis Parrott, 83 

Philena K. Rogers, 62 

Timothy F. Cranley, 34 

Patrick Murray, 78 

Mrs. Anna M. Hart. 56 

Miss Edith Phelps, 24 

Frederick Williams, 39 

Hughey Lunney, 97 

Mrs. Jared Potter, 73 

William McCormick, 66 

Harlow D. Doming, 74 

Julia Bulkley, 66 

Mrs. John Dewell, 87 

William Oakley, 84 

Mrs. Frances Bailey, 51 

Miss Sarah Brown, 66 

Louis B. Bristol, 43 

Edwin R. Hurlbut, 65 

Mrs. Jane S. Peck, 52 
William McCormick, Jr., 36 

Abel G. Camp, 74 

Frederick S. Spaulding, 36 

Dea. Asahel G. Phelps, 78 

Hobart Pendleton, 79 
Joseph S. Watson, 

Mrs. William B. Phelps, 71 
Mrs. Mary Johnson, 40 
Hezekiah C. Gregory, 94 
Mary Donohue, 84 
Mrs. Jane M. Gaylord, 56 
Albert Hall. 75 
Mrs. Sarah E. Leaven- 
worth, 47 
Mrs. Sherman H. Cowles, 74 
Robert M. Stack, 73 
Frank W. Lewis. 44 



HISTOKY OF NORFOLK. 



613 



1892. 
May 
June 
July 



Aug. 

1893. 
Mar. 

Apr. 
May 



July 

Aug. 
Oct. 

Dec. 



1894. 
Jan. 



Feb. 



Mar. 

Apr. 
June 



Aug. 
Sept. 
Oct. 

Dec. 
1895. 
Jan. 
Mar. 



Mrs. Margaret O'Brien, 
Frederick Tibbals, 
Alson H. Andrus, 
William W. Welch, M. D. 
Mrs. Merrill Humphrey, 
Frederick A. Spaulding, 
Wealthy A. Prime. 

Mrs. Nellie Van Deusen, 
Mrs. Mary Piper Smith, 
Miss Sarah Ann Parrott, 
Mrs. Mary F. Jackman, 
Mrs. Mary O'Connell, 
Miss Sarah J. Smith, 
Edward G. Corbally, 
Bartlett M. Moore, 
Mrs. Ellen Higgins, 
Dennis Quill, 
Mrs. Ellen Battell Bl- 

dridge, 
Obed P. Miner, 
Oliver L. Hotchkiss, 
Mrs. Samuel Smith, 
Dennis Foley, 
John Christenat, 

Mrs. Gilbert Perkins, 

Miss Mary L. Porter, 

Mrs. Asahel G. Phelps, 

John K. Shepard, 

Mrs. Cornelia Apley, 

Henry J. Gaylord, 

Mrs. Catherine A. Hollis- 

ter, 
John G. Camp, 
Mrs. Riley A. Grant, 
Maurice Flaherty, 
Thomas Tibbals, 
Hiram Harmon Riggs, 
Mrs. Silence E. Twlss, 
William Alorris. 
Augustine Hamilton, 
James Wymer, 
William H. Sardam, 
John J. Barry, 
Mrs. Mary Norton, 
E. Grove Lawrence, 
Mrs. Catherine M. Hearty, 71 
Lorrin Loomis Whiting, 
Edward A. Pixley, 
Mrs. Walter Collar, 

Robbins Battell, 
Mrs. Sarah Aiken Trow- 
bridge, 76 





1895. 






56 


Mar. 


Miss Juliaette Mills, 


71 


76 


Apr. 


John E. O'Connell, 


22 


83 




Mrs. Frederick A. Law- 




74 




rence, 


68 


73 




Mrs. G. Pettibone Thomp- 




82 




son, 


85 


70 


May 


James Prime. 


76 




June 


Charles H. Thompson, 


48 


34 




Mrs. John D. Bassett, 


29 


48 




Charles Tyler, 


42 


70 


Aug. 


Mrs. Catharine Donahoe, 


74 


88 




Charles J. Cole. 


56 


55 


Sept. 


Edwin L. Kenyon, 


51 


44 


Oct. 


Col. Horace B. Knapp, 


84 


21 




Miss Clara J. Baxter, 


44 


32 


Dec. 


Levi P. Phelps, 


77 


57 


1896. 






75 


Jan. 


Mrs. Harriet B. Johnson, 


80 




Feb. 


Plumb Brown, 


73 


68 




Henry M. Jones. 


69 


61 




Michael Murphy, 


73 


78 




Mrs. Margaret M. Hotch- 




79 




kiss, 


68 


44 


Mar. 


Mrs. Huldah Johnson 




61 




Dixon, 
Mrs. Julia Gaylord Alver- 


79 


86 




gnat. 


70 


42 




Mrs. Austin Wooster, 


73 


75 


May 


Miss Mary A. Gaylord, 


71 


79 


June 


James Morgan, 


82 


74 


July 


Alva Seymour Cowles, 


57 


76 


Sept. 


Martin L. Hotchkiss, 


73 






Mrs. Nancy Potter Burr, 


69 


25 




Mrs. William D. Bggleston 


66 


70 


Oct. 


Bramwell C. Gidman, M. D. 


43 


73 




Mrs. Sylvia Mills, 


82 


85 




Samuel A. Foote, 


55 


67 




John Gingell, 


73 


80 




Miss Catharine Donahoe, 


37 


89 




James Dunn. 


67 


73 


Nov. 


Philemon Johnson, 


72 


67 




Dea. Philip E. Curtiss, 


72 


67 


1897. 






74 


Jan. 


Mary P. Caul, 


20 


29 




Charles N. Spencer, 


42 


87 


Feb. 


Thomas F. Owens, 


31 


88 




Mary Jenks, 


77 


71 


Mar. 


Mrs. Robert A. Geer, 


79 


73 




Mrs. Catherine Christenat, 


54 


66 


Apr. 


Mrs. Chauncey Gaylord, 


92 


28 




Matthew F. Moore, 


55 




May 


Robert Bigelow, 


73 


76 




Mrs. Lucinda C. Cook. 


52 



June 



Miss Susan Lawrence Mills, 
Charles Chase Buell, 



91 



614 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 



1897. 
Sept. 



Nov. 
Dec. 
1898. 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Apr. 



June 

July 
Aug. 

Sept. 
Oct. 



Nov. 



Judge John Sedgwick, 68 

Miss Ellen M. Gaylord, 68 

Frederick J. Myers, 75 

John T. O'Connell, 29 

Mary Donovan, 69 

Mrs. Mary Oakley Beach, 53 

Patrick Griffin, 91 

Jeremiah J. O'Connell, 24 

Frank E. Scoville, 18 

William Burr Beach, 18 

Mrs. Mary J. McCarthy, 36 

Mrs. Mary Quill, 89 

Harley S. Hubbard, 19 

Matthew Sullivan, 74 

Austin Wooster, 79 

Mrs. Noble Arnold, 69 

Benjamin C. Bell. 67 

Mrs. Samuel Canfleld, 83 
Mrs. Anna Johnson Beech- 

er, 32 

Samuel G. Alexander, 76 

Loring Thorp, 66 

James H. Rood, 77 

Mrs. Elizabeth L. Metcalf, 64 

Michael O'Meara, 41 



1899. 
June 



Aug. 



Sept. 

Nov. 
Dec. 
1900. 
Jan. 

Feb. 



Mar. 



Apr. 



1899. 






May 


Jan. 


Mrs. Anson Gaylord, 


89 




Feb. 


Charles Van Alstine, 


55 


June 




Daniel Holleran, 


73 


July 


Mar. 


Joseph H. Bassett, 


80 






Susan R. Dowd. 


62 




Apr. 


George O'Brien, 


25 


Aug. 




Mrs. Rosanna Myers, 


70 





Dea. Frederick E. Porter, 77 
William Benjamin Bigelow, 75 

Chauncey Crosley, 88 

Michael Welch, 60 

Hugh Black, 52 

Charles L. Mead, 66 

Thomas L. O'Brien, 41 

Mrs. Mary E. Fancher, 69 

Mrs. Miles Riggs, 75 

Richard Bresnahan, 85 

Sara Jane Kelley, 19 

William H. Cooper, 73 

Mrs. Alice Glasheen, 75 
Gustave M. Stoeckel, M. D. 50 

Thomas E. Carroll. 46 

Mrs. George T. Johnson, 43 

Edward L. Gaylord, 68 

Miss Mary R. Phelps, 46 

Samuel Canfleld, 91 

Norman Riggs, 84 

Eugene C. Heady, 46 

Mrs. Samuel Vail, 81 

Orson Buell. M. D. 71 

John Glasheen, 82 

Mrs. Erastus Johnson, 41 

Mrs. Frederick Tibbals, 80 

Mrs. Johanna O'Connor, 78 

William Scoville, 79 
Mary Poole, 100 

Mrs. Henry Pendleton, 78 

Mrs. Homer Robinson, 27 

Mrs. Lucia N. Deming, 77 



TOWN CLERKS. 



1758— Joshua Whitney. 
1760— Michael Humphrey. 
1778— Dudley Humphrey. 
1782— Hosea Wilcox. 
1788— Dudley Humphrey. 
1794 — Asahel Humphrey. 
1797— Dudley Humphrey 2d. 
1802— Joseph Jones. 
1812 to 1849— Auren Roys. 



1850 to 1856— William K. Peck, Jun. 
1857 to 1863— Peter Curtiss. 
1864 & 1865— Theron W. Crissey. 
1866 to 1868— Joseph N. Cowles. 

1869 — Hiram P. Lawrence. 
1870 to 1895— Joseph N. Cowles. 
1896 to 1898— Myron N. Clark. 
1899 & 1900— Harry E. Stevens. 



TOWN TREASURERS. 



1758 to 1762— Ebenezer Burr. 
1763 to 1802— Giles Pettibone. 
1803 to 1809— Giles Pettibone, Jun. 
1810 to 1821— Nathaniel Stevens. 
1822 to 1831— Jonathan H. Pettibone. 

1832— Darius Phelps. 

1833— E. Grove Lawrence. 



1834 & 1835— William Lawrence. 
1836 to 1855— Oliver B. Butler. 
1856 to 1868— Bobbins Battell. 
1869 to 1895— Joseph N. Cowles. 
1896 to 1898— Eugene Darrow. 
1899 — 1900— William O'Connor. 



HISTOEY OF NORFOLK. 



615 



PROBATE JUDGES. 



1779 to 1806— Giles Pettibone. 
1807 to 1822— Augustus Pettibone, 
1823 to 1841- Michael F. Mills. 

1842— Joseph Riggs. 

1843— James C. Swift. 
1844 & 1845— Michael G. Mills. 

1846— Daniel Hotchkiss. 
1847 & 1849— Darius Phelps. 



1848 & 1852— William K. PecJi, Jun. 
1850 & 1851— John Dewell. 

1853— Nathaniel B. Stevens. 
1854 to 1859— William B. Rice. 
1859 to 1888— Robbing Battell. 
1889 to 1895— Joseph B. Eldridge. 
1895 to 1898— Edward J. Trescott. 
1898 to 1900— Bobbins Battell Stoeckel 



FIRST SELECTMEN. 



1758 — George Palmer. 

1759— Abel Phelps. 
1760 to 1763— Michael Humphrey. 

1764— Isaac Holt. 
1765 to 1767— Joseph Seward. 

1768 — Abraham Camp. 
1769 & 1770— Thomas Tibbals. 1838 & 

1771 to 1773— Joseph Seward. 

1774— Elijah Grant. 

1775 — Dudley Humphrey. 1842 & 

1776 to 1781— Michael Mills. 1844 & 

1782 to 1784— Titus Ives. 
1785 to 1787— Michael Mills. 

1788— Samuel Mills. 1848 & 

1789 — Ariel Lawrence. 
1790 to 1793— Asahel Humphrey. 1851 & 

1794 to 1796— Eleazer Holt. 

1797 & 1798— Jedediah Phelps. 1854 to 

1799 to 1803— Nicholas Holt. 1857 & 

1802 & 1803— Nathaniel Stevens. 
1804 & 1805— Jeremiah W. Phelps. 
1806 to 1809— Eden Mills. 

1810— Elizur Munger. 1862 & 

1811 to 1815 — Amasa Cowles, Jun. 

1816— Reuben Gaylord. 1865 & 

1817 — Lawrence Mills. 
1818 & 1819— Reuben Brown. 
1820 to 1822— James Shepard. 1S69 to 

1823 to 1825— Amos Pettibone. 1872 & 

1826 & 1827— Solomon Cowles, 1874 & 

1828— Edmund Brown. 1876 to 

1829-Erastus Smith. 1883 to 

1830— Harvey Grant. 1898 to 

1831— Jedediah Phelps. 



1832— Hiram Mills. 
1833— Auren Tibbals. 
1834— Darius Phelps. 
1835— Elon Maltbie. 
1836— Henry Porter. 
1837— Willis Griswold. 
1839— John Humphrey, 
1840— Elizur Dowd. 
1841 — Augustus Roys. 
1843— Luther Butler. 
1845 — James M. Cowles. 
1846— Uri Butler. 
1847— Benjamin W. Crlssey. 
1849— James H. Shepard. 
1850— Samuel D. Northway. 
1852— James H. Shepard. 
1853— John K. Shepard. 
1856—0. J. Wolcott. 
1858— William Oakley. 
1859— Plumb Brown. 
1860— Austin A. Spaulding, 
1861— Austin Hawley, 
1863— Erastus Burr. 
1864 — James Humphrey. 
1866— Hiram Mills. 
1867 — James Humphrey. 
1868— Ralph I. Crlssey. 
1871— Abel Camp. 
1873— Austin A. Spaulding, 
1875 — Erastus Burr. 
1882— Loomis L. Whiting. 
1897— Moses F. Grant. 
1900— Edward J. Trescott. 



CONNECTICUT'S LAW-MAKERS FROM NORFOLK, 



Norfolk was first represented in the General Assembly of Con- 
necticut at the October session, 1777. The House of Reiiresenta- 
tives at that session consisted of 124 members, the Norfolk repre- 
sentatives being "Capt. Giles Pettibone" and "Mr, William Walter." 



616 HISTOKY OF NORFOLK. 

In this warlike assembly were 6 Majors, 16 Colonels, and 36 
Captains. 

The State officers were .Jonathan Trumbull, Governor,— the gen- 
uine, original, veritable "Brother Jonathan." 

Matthew Griswold, Deputy Governor. 

George Wyllys, Secretary. 

John Lawi'ence, Treasurer. 

The "upper house" consisted of 12 members, called "Assis- 
tants," each having the title of "Esq." 

In 1786 the State Officers were increased by a "Comptroller." 
In 1809 the 12 Assistants had a title prefixed to their names, 
when they were, for example, "Hon. David Daggett, Esq." This 
handle at each end of the name was continued until 1826, when 
the "Esq." was dropped. After the adoption of the Constitution in 
1818 the name Senators was substituted for Assistants. The regu- 
lar October Session, was also dispensed with, and only the May ses- 
sion held. In 1830 the number of Senators was increased from 12 
to 21,— the state having been divided at that time into 21 Senato- 
rial districts. The change from annual to biennial elections and 
sessions of the Legislature was made by article 27 of an amend- 
ment to tbe Constitution of the State, adopted October, 1884, which 
article declares that "A general election for Governor, members of 
the General Assembly, etc., shall be held on the Tuesday after the 
first Monday of November, 1886, and bi-ennially thereafter." "The 
regular sessions of the General Assembly shall commence on the 
Wednesday following the first Monday of the January next suc- 
ceeding the election of its members." Previous to this time the 
state elections had been held annually on the first Monday in April, 
and the regular sessions of the Assembly commenced on the first 
Wednesday in May. 



LIST OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM NORFOLK TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
FROM 1777 TO 1846. 

(From Roys' Histobt). 

1777— Giles Pettibone. William Walter. 
1778— Giles Pettibone, Hosea Wilcox. Two sessions. 
1779— Dudley TTumphrey, Michael Mills. Two sessions. 
1780— Giles Pettibone, Joseph Mills. 

Titus Ives, Asahel Case. 
1781— No appointment. 

Hosea Wilcox, Isaac Hoyt. 
1782— Michael Mills, Nathaniel Stevens. 

Michael Mills, Elilah Grant. 
1783— Elijah Grant, Michael Mills. 

Giles Pettibone, Ephraim Quiteau. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 617 

1784 — Giles Pettibone, Dudley Humphrey. Two sessions. 
1785 — Michael Mills, Dudley Humphrey. Two sessions. 
1786— Michael Mills, Asahel Humphrey. Two sessions. 
1787 — Titus Ives, Hosea Humphrey. 

Asahel Humphrey, Hosea Humphrey. 
1788— Asahel Humphrey, Michael Mills. 

Dudley Humphrey, Giles Pettiboue. 
1789— Dudley Humphrey, Giles Pettibone. Two sessions. 
1790— Dudley Humphrey, Giles Pettibone. 

Dudley Humphrey, Michael ^lills. 
1791 — Dudley Humphrey, Giles Pettibone. 

Dudley Humphrey, Michael Mills. 
1792 — Dudley Humphrey, Giles Pettibone. 

Giles Pettibone, Asahel Humphrey. 
1793— Giles Pettibone, Asahel Humphrey. Two sessions. 
1794— Asahel Humphrey, Giles Pettibone. Two sessions. 
1795— Giles Pettibone, Nathaniel Stevens. Two sessions. 
1796 — Asahel Humphrey, Nathaniel Stevens. Two sessions. ^ 

1797— Asahel Humphrey, Giles Pettibone. 

Giles Pettibone, Nathaniel Stevens. 
1798— Giles Pettibone, Nathaniel Stevens. 

Nathaniel Stevens, Bleazer Holt. 
1799— Giles Pettibone, Eleazer Holt. 

Nathaniel Stevens, Eleazer Holt. 
1800— Giles Pettibone, Eleazer Holt. 

Nathaniel Stevens, Augustus Pettibone. 
1801— Giles Pettibone, . 

Nathaniel Stevens, Augustus Pettibone. 
1802— Nathaniel Stevens, Augustus Pettibone. Two sessions. 
1803 — Nathaniel Stevens, Augustus Pettibone. Two sessions. 
1804 — Augustus Pettibone, Eleazer Holt. Two sessions. 
1805 — Augustus Pettibone, Nathaniel Stevens, jun. 

Augustus Pettibone, Nathaniel Stevens. 
1806— Jeremiah W. Phelps, Nathaniel Stevens, jun. 

Jeremiah W. Phelps, Nathaniel Stevens. 
1807— Augustus Pettibone. John Dickinson. Two sessions. 
1808— Nathaniel Stevens, Benjamin Welch. 

Augustus Pettibone, Benjamin Welch. 
1809— Nathaniel Stevens, John Dickinson. Two sessions. 
1810— Nathaniel Stevens, John Dickinson. Two sessions. 
1811— Benjamin Welch, Joseph Battell. 

Benjamin Welch, Elizur Munger. 
1812 — Augustus Pettibone, Nathaniel Stevens. 

Eleazer Holt, Augustus Pettibone. 
1813— Eleazer Holt, Augustus Pettibone. Two sessions. 
1814 — Augustus Pettibone, Eleazer Holt. Two sessions. 
1815— Eleazer Holt, Nathaniel Stevens. Two sessions. 
1816 — Nathaniel Stevens, Elizur Munger. Two sessions. 
1817— Nathaniel Stevens, Elizur Munger. 

Nathaniel Stevens, Augustus Pettibone. 
1818 — Nathaniel Stevens, Augustus Pettibone. Two sessions. 
1819— Nathaniel Stevens, Augustus Pettibone. 
3820— Augustus Pettibone, Joseph Battell. 
1821— Lawrence Mills, Elizur Munger. 
1822— Augustus Pettibone, Benjamin AVelch. 
1823— Augustus Pettibone, Benjamin Welch. 



618 HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 

1824— Augustus Pettlbone, Joseph Battell. 
1823— Augustus Pettibone, Joseph Battell. 
1826— Joseph Battell, Amos Pettibone. 
1827— Amos Pettibone, Joseph Kiggs. 
1828— Amos Pettibone, Joseph Battell. 
1829— Amos Pettibone, Thomas Curtis. 
1830— Michael F. Mills, Amos Pettibone. 
1831— Michael F. Mills. Edmund Brown. 
1832— Jedediah Phelps, Harvey Grant. 
1833— Michael F. Mills, Harvey Grant. 
1834 — Thomas Curtis. Warren Cone. 
1835— Thomas Curtis, Elizur Dowd. 
1836— Benjamin Welch, jun., Darius Phelps. 
1837 — Asahel B. Case, Levi Shephard. 
1838 — Warren Cone, Thomas Curtis. 
1839— Hiram Mills, Elizur Dowd. 
1840 — James Shepard, Hiram Gaylord. 
1841— Eden Riggs, David L. Dowd. 
1842— Thomas Curtis, Dudley Norton. 
1843 — No appointment. 

1844 — William Lawrence, James M. Cowles, 
1845— E. G. Lawrence, Silas Burr. 
1846— Harlow Roys, Horace B. Knapp. 



The Continued List of Representatives fbom this Town is the Followins: 

1847— Oliver B. Butler, John K. Shepard. 
1848— Solomon Curtiss, William W. Welch. 
1849— Anson Gaylord, John Humphrey. 
1850— William W. Welch, Samuel D. Northway. 
1851— Hiram Gaylord, James M. Cowles. 
1852— Robbins Battell, Austin A. Spaulding. 
1853— John Humphrey, William J. Norton. 
1854— William K. Peck, Jun., Orlo J. Wolcott. 
1855 — Jeremiah Johnson, Levi P. Gaylord. 
1856— Egbert T. Butler, Frederick A. Spaulding. 
1857— John K. Shepard, Plumb Brown. 
1858 — Robbins Battell, James Humphrey. 
1859— Henry J. Holt, Asahel G. Phelps. 
1860— Robbins Battell, Thomas Curtiss. 
1861— John H. Welch, Henry Pendleton. 
1862— John P. Hawley, Ralph Brown. 
1863— Aaron Koyes, John A. Shepard. 
1864— William K. Peck, Jun., Robert A. Geer. 
1865— Erastus Burr, Samuel S. Vaill. 
1866— Egbert T. Butler, John Dewell. 
1867— Abel Camp, Ralph I. Crissey. 
1868— Robert P. Pendleton, Dwight P. Mills. 
1869— William W. Welch, William E. Phelps. 
1870— William K. Peck, Sen., Joseph N. Cowles. 
1871— Harvey Johnson, John K. Shepard. 
1872— Loomis L. Whiting, Hiram H. Riggs. 
1873— Oliver L. Hotchkiss, Edward Y. Morehouse. 
1874— Philip E. Curtiss, Charles M. Ryan. 
1875— Miles Riggs, Charles M. Ryan. 



HISTORY OF NORFOLK. 619 

1876— Levi P. Phelps, Henry J. Holt. 
1877— Austin Wooster, Henry G. Smith. 
1878 — Moses F. Grant, Horace A. Stanuard. 
1879 — George R. Bigelow, Abel H. Pendleton. 
1880— Robbins Battell, Edward L. Gaylord. 
1881— William W. Welch, George Wooster. 
1882— Plumb Brown, Alva S. Cowles. 
1883— Ralph I. Crissey, Odbrey M. Snow. 
1884— Frederick E. Porter, William A. Spaulding. 
1885 — Joseph Selden, Rufus P. Seymour. 
1886— William A. Humphrey, John D. Bassett. 
1888— Arthur P. At wood, Theodore H. Beardsley. 
1890— William L. Egleston, Thomas E. Carroll. 
1892— Myron N. Clark, Edward C. Stevens. 
1894— George T. Johnson, Obed H. Stannard. 
1896— Leopold J. Curtiss, Fred M. Darrow. 
1898— Henry H. Bridgman, Melvin E. Snow. 

RESIDENTS OF THIS TOWN WHO HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO 
THE STATE SENATE ARE: 

1830 & 1831— Hon. Augustus Pettibone. 

1843— Hon. John Dewell. 
1851 & 1852— Hon. William W. Welch. 

1856— Hon. Samuel D. Northway. 

1865— Hon. Robbins Battell. 
1868 & 1869— Hon. E. Grove Lawrence. 

1889— Hon. Joseph N. Cowles. 



ERRATA. 

Page 244. Eead Sidney for Sylvester Tyrrell. 
Page 502. Eead painted Trillium for Trillnun. 
Page 511. Read Joshua for Josiah Whitney. 



APPENDIX. 



After this volume was completed, excepting the index, the follow- 
ing matters of interest were learned, in an interview with Mr. Ralph 
Emerson, of Rockford, Illinois, a son of Rev. Ralph Emerson, D. D., 
the pastor of the Congregational Church in Norfolk from 1816 to 
1829. 

In the sketch of Rev. Ralph Emerson, page 170, it is said : " As the 
two older brothers had already received a liberal education, and it was 
the intention of the father to also educate the younger brother, it was 
felt that Ralph could not be spared from the farm. The desire for a 
college education, however, increased with his advancing years. The 
restless thirst for knowledge burned within him." 

Mr. Emerson in this interview said: "Just at this time in my 
father's life, his father said to him one day, ' Your brothers have a col- 
lege education, and you can have one too if you wish.' He replied 
instantly, 'I want it.' His father, taken aback, replied, 'You can have 
it, but I shall want you to come back and work on the farm afterwards.' 
Ralph replied, 'I will; but I want to go, because I want to know.' 
When Ralph graduated as valedictorian, first in the academy and then 

at Yale College, his father was only glad to forget the promise 

The College Choir consisted of Ralph Emerson and his room-mate, 
Sidney E. Morse, brother of Professor Morse, the inventor of the tele- 
graph. Sidney E. Morse started the Boston Eecorder, and after that the 
Nev) York Observer. The inventor Morse was in another class in col- 
lege, and he used to come to his brother's room, and for some abuse 
which he was continually heaping on this brother, he at one time re- 
ceived a well-merited chastisement from Mr. Emerson, which did not 
hinder their being close friends for life. 

As soon as college rules would allow, Mr. Emerson was called back 
to the college as tutor. When he first came home on vacation while in 
college, he at once pulled off his shoes and went barefoot to drive four 
yoke of oxen. The old Captain, his father, suggested that as the work 
was difficult, — breaking up a stumpy pasture, — and the oxen fractious, 
the young man might need some help. But he said, 'No; if I can't 
drive four yoke of oxen I'll not go back to college till I can.' 

At the time Mr. Emerson was the pastor in Norfolk, Dr. Lyman 
Beecher was the pastor in Litchfield. 



622 APPENDIX. 

In those days liquor was so universally used that when a visiting 
clergyman came to preach, and also with many pastors in their regular 
ministrations, one of the church officers felt in duty bound to present a 
glass of spirits to the minister just before he entered the church. Mr. 
Emerson, Dr. Lyman Beecher, that old War Eagle, father of all the 
other Beechers, and one other clergyman, whose name is forgotten, in 
talliing it over, entered into an agreement that they would refuse abso- 
lutely to take liquor at any time under any circumstances. This pro- 
duced much criticism from their ministerial brethren and others, and 
was one of the first, if not the first, total abstinence society, ever formed. 
Encouraged by this, Mr". Emerson organized among the childi-en of the 
church in Norf oils, in spite of considerable criticism there, what was 
probably the first children's temperance society that we have any re- 
cord of. 

This last I had from my brother Daniel, who was a member of the 
children's society. The other, from my father. 

Two members of his church in Norfolk, whom we will call Mr. C. 
and Mr. D., had had a long bitter quarrel. Soon after Mr. Emerson's 
settlement, Mr. C. came to the young pastor, narrated the whole quar- 
rel and asked the pastor's advice. " Is it not my duty to go to D.," he 
asked, " narrate to him all his short-comings, and see if plainly telling 
him of it may not lead him to repentance? " Mr. Emerson after hear- 
ing the very long account, said, "In all this matter, Mr. C, have you 
not done or said some things which you on the whole regret?" 

" Well, yes, a very few." The young pastor replied, " It 

is your duty then to go to D. and confess your own short-comings. In 
that way only can you clear your own conscience." 

Mr. C, following the young pastor's advice, called on D., saying, — 
'« You and I have quarrelled long, and I have said some things which I 
should not have said." 

" I should think you had," was the angry reply. 

It was hard for the quick-tempered C. to control himself, but, re- 
membering his pastor's advice, he did, and continued, " I have come to 
confess, and ask forgiveness." 

" It is high time you did," interrupted D. 

There was a long pause, — but C, faithful to his determination, 
went on with his confession, till he was again interrupted by D. 

" Stop ! stop ! it is my turn now to confess." Then and there, 

on that barn floor, was cemented a life-long friendship. 

" This narrative of the facts as they occurred here in Norfolk, and 
were related to me by my father, was used by him in his lectures to the 
students in Andover Theological Seminary as a capital illustration of 
repentance, confession, forgiveness and reconciliation. The illustration 
was borrowed by his students, and used by them in after life, and at 
length was published in a book of lectures by one of these Andover 
students, who became Prof. L ; and strangely, the facts narrated 



APPENDIX. , 623 

above were given as having occurred in Prof. L. 's own pastorate, 

which my father knew to be a mistake, and wished that the mistake 
might be corrected." 

Wlien was the first Sunday-scliool organized in this town? has been 
often asked. The best answer has been, sometime during Mr. Emer- 
son's pastorate probably; quite likely about 1825. Regarding this 
question of the Sundaj^-school, Mr. Ralph Emerson, says: — "Come to 
think it over, I know all about it. In 1821, my uncle, Joseph Emerson, 
then at Byfleld, who was a pioneer in Sunday-school work in America, 
published a "Union Catechism for use especially in Sabbath-schools," 
consisting of 120 closely printed pages. I have a copy of it, and some 
garrets in Norfolk should have copies of it yet. 

He also published for like use, a Primer, called the " Evangelical 
Primer," that went through many editions, and copies of it are now 
rare. I remember my brother, Daniel, said that in that Sabbath-school 
in Norfolk, which was organized perhaps in 1820 or '21, the Juvenile 
Temperance Society was formed. A part of the children joined, but 
not all. It was not crowded. That was a ticklish question in those 
days. 

Esquire Battell was a very kindly man. Always before Thanks- 
giving, (or was it New Years? Christmas was an unknown quantity 
then;) young Joseph Battell brought over a goodly turkey on his sled 
to the pastor. New Years was a day to be remembered by all the 
children, for as they crowded into the store to wish Mr. Battell a 
"Happy New Year," each received a stick of candy. One poverty- 
stricken family had a half-witted son, who came in tatters with the 
rest. The kindly merchant was ready for him, and gave him a warm 
coat. The boy had mind enough to remember that. The first of April 
came. With it at early dawn came that same almost demented boy. 
He rushed in saying, "I wish you a happy April fool's day, Mr. 
Battell, I want a coat." Such was the estimation in which that grand 
man was held by the poor and lowly. 

Boys will be boys ; but of boys, men are made, — sometimes. The 
Norfolk boys wanted some fun. One dark night a stalwart youth 
caught a goose. A goose was then a bird that on occasion could sing 
distinctly and clearly, if not always agreeably. The youth and the 
goose marched in the darkness around and around the green, followed 
by a crowd of yelling boys, who aided the song of the goose with their 
chorus. The night was made hideous. Suddenly the strong hand of 
the pastor, (my father,) was laid on the youth. The goose escaped, — 
but the boy did not. Of what then passed, in the kindly pastor's 
study, no record exists, except that the boy did not wish his name to 
be given out, and it was never mentioned in Norfolk. But one of 
Norfolk's late citizens, and an influential man could have said, ' I 
was that boy. That night Mr. Emerson made a man of me.' " 



624 APPENDIX. 

A sketch of Edmund Bro-wn, Esq., a prominent man for many years 
in all the aftairs of the town, was accidentally omitted from its proper 
place. He was born in Manchester, Conn. ; when about twelve years 
of age came to Norfolk and lived with his uncle, Edmund Brown, who 
had no children, \yhen a young man he started for himself, buying 
the farm on the west road in Norfolk, where he built, and for most of 
his life, operated a saw-mill, manufactm-ing a great amount of limaber, 
cleared and made productive land of the rocky, primeval forest, and 
made an attractive home, where he and all his children spent their 
lives. He was for many years the acting justice of the peace, held 
nearly all the prominent offices of the town, and represented the town 
in the state legislature. He was a man of great euei-gy, and of marked 
inteo'rity and unusual force of character, of excellent judgment, a great 
reader of books requiring deep thought. At his funeral. Dr. Eldridge 
remarked of him in closing his address, "Seldom shall Ave find a man 
the like of Edmund Brown."" He married Mabel Holt Norton, daughter 
of Ebenezer Norton of Norfolk. Their three daughters, Sarah, Abigail 
and Harriet were ladies of education, refinement and rare Christian 
character and worth, who spent their lives, unmarried, on the old 
homestead. Ealph, the eldest son, was like his father, a thoughtful 
man. a deep reader, an honored citizen who represented the town in 
the state legislature, and held many of the prominent town offices. He 
never married, and spent his life upon the old homestead. Plumb, the 
younger of the two sons, had many of the marked traits of his father ; 
was a man vigorous of mind and body; held many of the important 
town offices and positions of trust, and represented the town in the 
state legislature more than once. He also spent his life on the old 
homestead. He married Olive E., the only daughter of Benjamin W. 
Crissey. Their sons, Edmund and Benjamin are now prominent in all 
the aftairs of their native town. Their daughters, Sarah, Mrs. G. 
Clifford Scoville, and Miss Mabel E. Brown, have their homes in Nor- 
folk. The youngest son. Plumb Jr., is a prominent physician of Spring- 
field, Mass. 

It was my purpose, had not this volume gi-own too large, to make 
brief mention of many others who once lived here in my native 
town, among them Grove P. Tyrrell, one of the loved friends of my 
youth, whose active life has been spent in the state of Oregon, as a suc- 
cessful merchant, at Salem, the capital. 

" Judge G. P. Tyrrell was elected by a flattering vote to the highest 
position in the gift of Marion County in June, 1896, that of County 
Judge. He has made a faithful and efficient officer, a just and impartial 
judge." 

My work is done. Its mistakes, its omissions, its many imperfec- 
tions, I sincerely regret. 

" The work outlasts the worker." " May the Lord add His bles- 
sing." 

THE COMPILER. 



INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Congregational Church and Dr. 



Eldridge's pulpit 



Frontispiece 



Buttermilk Falls, . . . . 

View from Gymnasium, 

Norfolk, from Crissey Hill, . 

Group, Five Deacons, 

The Eldridge Residence, 

The H. H. Bridgman Residence, . 

Gymnasium Grounds, . 

Rev- Ralph Emerson, D.D., and 

Mis. Z. P. G. Banister, . 
Michael F. Mills, Esq., . 
Haystack and the "Two Villages," 
The Shepard Hotel. 
Group, N. B. Stevens, John K. 

Shepard, Aaron Keyes, A. A. 

Spaulding, S. D. Northway, 
The Old School-House and Con- 
ference Room, . . . . 
The Battell Fountain and the 

Park 

Group, Thomas T. Cowles, John 

Ryan, William B. Rice, Capt. 

John Dewell, Alva S. Cowles, . 
J. H. P. Stevens, M.D., Adjutant 

Samuel C. Barnum, 
Colonel George Ryan, 



11 

20 
33 
74 
78 
122 
141 

169 
190 
196 
211 



269 



287 



298 



317 
325 



Haystack and Old Railroad Station, 329 
The Old Toil-Gate, . . . .337 
The Railroad Station, . . .341 

Stoney Lonesome 345 

Mi-s. Bilhah Freedom, Dea. James 
Mars, Samuel Smith, and Nor- 
folk under the Snow, . . .370 
Rev. Joseph Eldridge, D.D., . . 404 
Rev. Joseph Eldridge and Mi's. 

Sarah B. Eldridge, . . .433 
Joseph Battell, Esq., and Joseph 
Battell, Jun., 445 



Robhins Battell, .... 455 

Benjamin Welch, Sen., M.D., and 
Mi-s. Elizabeth L. Welch, . 

Group, The Welch Brothers . 

William W. Welch, M.D., 

William H. Welch, M.D., LL.D., 

F. M. Shepard, 482 

Rev. Reuben Gaylord, Mrs. Mary 
Gaylord, 433 

Church, Chapel, Library, Gymna- 
sium, 

Group, William C. Phelps, Harry 
M. Grant, Charles M. Ryan, Mer- 
rill Humphrey, Austin Wooster, 

Group, E. Grove Lawrence, James 
M. Cowles, Aaron Gilbert, Anson 
Gaylord, Philo Smith . 

Group,Benjamin W.Crissey,Eben- 
ezer Burr, Silas Burr, Ralph 
Brown, Plumb Brown,. 

Mr. Levi Pettibone,Col. Giles Pet- 
tibone's House,The Old Robbins 
House, ..... 

Judge Augustus Pettibone, . 

Group, Hiram Mills, Charles H. 
Mills,Samuel Seymour, Haimon 
H. Riggs, Capt. J. A. Shepard, 

Group, Five Norton Generations, 

The Catholic Church and Paro- 
chial Residence. . 

The Hillhurst, . 

The Norfolk Library, 

The Eldridge Gymnasium, 

Lake Wangum, 

The Stevens House, . 

Ty-ny-Tulloch ; Residence of Prof. 
F.J. Goodnow, . . . .602 



470 
473 

475 
480 



494 



503 



510 



520 



538 
541 



545 
555 

587 
591 
593 
596 
598 
601 



INDEX. 



INDEX OF SUBJECTS. 



^tna Silk Company, 
Anecdotes, 
Anti-slavery period, 
Battell Family, 



254 
375 
294 
445 



Battell, Joseph, Esq., Merchant, 263 
Battell, Joseph, Esq., Sketch, 445 
Battell, Mrs. Sarah Bobbins, 447 
Battell, Joseph Jun., 448 

Battell, Bobbins. 454 

Battell, Miss Anna, 462 

Battell, Philip, 464 

Battell Memorial Fountain, 597 

Butler, Egbert T., Father of the 

Railroad, 341 

Butler Family, 547 

Banister, Mrs. Z. P. Grant, 177 to 190 
Baptist Church, 591 

Bear treed a man, 220 

Beech Flats, 65 

Barnum, Adjutant Samuel C, 317 
Blizzard of 188S, 212 

Brief Sketches of Individuals, 503 
Brown, Cornelius, and Descend- 
ants. 527 
Brown, Owen, 552 
Bushnell, Dr. Horace,— Address, 204 
Building the Meeting-house, 15 
Building the New Meeting- 
house, 190 
Catholic Church, 587 
Case, Capt. Asahel, 554 
Cemeteries, 19G 
Chaplain Bobbins' War Journal, 

97 to 121 
Census Reports, 378 

Centre of the Town, 66, 190 

Cold Summer of 1816, 384 

Cone, Samuel and Warren; 

Scythe-makers, 242 

College Land in Norfolk, 41 

Committee to raise money, 193 

Contributors to build the church, 194 
Connecticut Arms Company, 240 

Colored People, 370 



County Seat, 381 

Century Sermon, 141 

Communion Service Presenta- 
tion, 442 
Cowles Family, 514 
Cowles, Samuel, 478 
Cowles, Henry, D. D., 478 
Cowles, Joseph, and Descend- 
ants, 552 
Church Covenant, 74 
Church Organs, 579 
Dedicatory Prayer, 192 
Description of an old Meeting- 
house, 68 
Deeds of the Land, 50 
Drawing for Original Lots, 52 
Dewell Family, 566 
Dignifying and Seating the 

Meeting-house, 70 

Dish-mill, 256 

"Does the Bible Sanction Slav- 
ery?" 300 
Early Colonial History, 1 to 11 
Early Customs and Habits, 72 
Ecclesiastical Society Matters, 155 
Ecclesiastical Society Fund, 160 
Ecclesiastical Society Fund Con- 
tributors, 162 
Emerson, Rev. Ralph, called, 157 
Emerson, Rev. Ralph, D. D., 169 
Elevations, 374 
English Oppression, 24 
Episcopal Church, 590 
Eldridge, Rev. Joseph, called, 163 
Eldridge, Rev. Joseph, D. D., 404 
Eldridge, Mrs. Sarah Battell, 433 
Eldridge, Mrs. Ellen Battell, 464 
Eldridge, Rev. Joseph; trip to 

Europe, 166 

Eldridge, The Rev. Joseph, D. 
D., before the Railroad Com- 
missioners, 345 
Freedom, Aunt Bilhah, 372 
Fire Near the Meeting-house, 221 



INDEX. 



627 



Fire in the Meeting-house, 221 

First Town Meeting, 61 

First Town Officers, 62 

First Abolition Vote, 295 

First Selectmen, 615 

Flora of Norfolk, 497 

Fosket, Miss Cynthia L., 441 

Grant Family, 556 

Grant of Lands to Hartford and 

Windsor. 37 

Gaylord, Rev. Reuben, 487 

Great Pond, 59 

Grist-mill lot, 54 

Grist-mill built, 227 

Guiteau, Ephraim, M. D., 481 

Half Century Sermon by Mr. 

Robbins, 122 to 140 

Highways, 51, 329 

Holt Family, 560 

Holt, Judge George B., 563 

Humphrey, Asahel, of Goshen, 549 
Humphrey Family, 564 

Humphrey, Asahel, 565 

Humphrey, Mrs. Urania Battell, 458 
Ice Storm of 1898, 218 

Indian Story, 363 

Iron Works, 57 

Iron Works; grant and location, 

228, 229 
Kilbourn, Jonathan S., Manufac- 
turer, 237 
Kilbourn, Edward E., Inventor, 249 
Larned, Mrs. Irene Battell, 451 
Lawrence, E. Grove, Iron Man- 
ufacturer, 246 
Laying out the Lands, 51 
Land Tax, 71 
Letter of Condolence, from the 

West, 213 

Litchfield County Centennial, 202 
Litchfield County Organized, 43 

Litchfield County Towns, ~ 35 

Love of Our Native Town, 31 

Longevity in Norfolk, 201 

Manufacturers of the Town, 223 
Manufactured Articles and Pro- 
ducts, 1845, 260 
Manuscript Arithmetic, 284 
Masonic Centennial, 384 
Merchants, 262 
Memorial Windows, 581 
Mills Family, 54a 
Moses Family, 524 
Methodist Episcopal Church, 584 
Modern Norfolk, 591 



Norton, Ebenezer, and Descend- 
ants, 523 
Norton, Stephen, and Descend- 
ants, 555 
Norfolk Library, 593 
Norfolk Academy, 277 
Norfolk Hosiery Co., 249 
Norfolk First Mentioned, 36 
Norfolk Sold and Named, 42 
Norfolk Anti-Slavery Society, 296 
Norfolk Men in the Civil War, 306 
Norfolk Bank. 366 
Norfolk Savings Bank, 367 
Norfolk Prices Current, 1778, 368 
Norfolk Brick, 379 
Norfolk Downs, 598 
Norfolk Water Company, 598 
Norfolk Newspapers, 600 
Norfolk Chimes, 601 
Norfolk Summer Residents, 602 
Norfolk Necrology, 603 
Old Pastorates, 378 
Old French War, 18, 380 
Old Toll Gate, 337 
Ordination of Mr. Robbins, 77 
Organization of the Church, 17 
Original Proprietors of Norfolk, 46 
Original Title of the Lands, 49 
Original Members of the First 

Church, 74 

Pettibone Family, 538 

Pettibone, Mrs. Louisa Welch, 479 
Pettibone, Col. Giles, and De- 
scendants. 539 
Pettibone, Giles Jun., 539 
Pettibone, Sereno, 539 
Pettibone, Judge Rufus, 539 
Pettibone, Levi, 539 
Pettibone, Judge Augustus, 541 
Pendleton Family, 567 
Phelps, Capt. John, and De- 
scendants, 544 
Panthers in Norfolk, 219 
Pease, Earl P., Woolen Manufac- 
turer, 233 
Planter's Hoes, 245 
Pine Timber Lands, 56 
Post-Office, 18, 355 
Probate District of Norfolk, 48, 381 
Proprietors' Meetings, 51 
Potashery, 233 
Photography, 600 
Probate Judges, 615 
I'hysiography and Geology, 494 
Railroad, — Locating, 344 



628 



INDEX. 



Railroad Celebration, 352 

Kailroatl Commissioners' Decis- 
ion, 351 
Railroad Through Norfolk, 341 
Raising the Meeting-house, 67 
Riggs Family, 550 
Robbius School, 592 
Reminiscences of Dr. Eldridge, 383 
Representatives to the General 

Assembly, 617 

Revolutionary War Times, 78 

Revolutionary Soldiers from Nor- 
folk, 82 to 91 
Revolutionary War Journal, 97 to 121 
Rice, William B., as a Teacher; 

Address, 279 

Robbins, Rev. A. R., Ordination, 77 
Robbins, Rev. A. R., Half-cen- 
tury Sermon, 122 
Robbins, Rev. Thomas, Century 

Sermon, 141 

Robbins Family, 392 

Ryan, Colonel George, 325 

Ryan Family, " 573 

Ryan, J. & B. E. & Co., Woolen 

Manufacturers, 236 

State Senators from Norfolk, 619 
Sale of the Town, 13 

Spaulding Family, 577 

Sabbath-day Houses, 16 

Saw-mills, 256 

Schools, 17, 269 

Severe Winters and Storms, 211 

Slavery Question in the Church, 298 
Sketch of Rev. Ralph Emerson, 

D. D.. 169 

Sequestration of Mill Sites, 57 

Settling a Pastor, 14 

Sketch of Norfolk, "S. H. D." 390 
Sewer District. 600 

Stevens, Nathaniel B., Manufac- 
turer, 240, 257 
Soldiers, Revolutionary, 82 
Soldiers in the Civil War, 306 
Soldiers' Monument, 315 



Shepard Family, 521 

Shepard, Frederick M., 482 

Stevens Family, 547 

Silk Culture, 362 

Singing Schools, 374 

Strong Fund, 381 

Sunday School, 70 

Summit Rock, 377 

Summer Homes, 601 
Tanneries, 241, 242 

"The Two Villages," poem, 196 
"The Green Hills of My Father 

Land," poem, 485 
Teachers, 274, 276 

Temperance Organizations, 358 

The Park. 287 

Tibbals Family, 533 

Title to the Land. 50 

Town Meetings, 21 

Town Lottery, 21 

Town Votes, 22 

Town System, 33 

Town Clerks, 614 

Town Treasurers, 614 

Thurston, Mrs. Laura Hawley, 483 

Village Hall, 597 

War of 1812. 380 

Welch Family, 466 

Welch, Hopestill, 466 

Welch, Benjamin Sen., M. D., 468 

Welch, Mrs. Louisa Guiteau, 472 

Welch, Mrs. Elizabeth Loveland, 472 

Welch, Asa G., M. D., 473 

Welch, Benjamin Jr., M. D., 474 

Welch, James, M. D., 475 

Welch, William Wickham, M. D., 475 

Welch, John Hopestill, M. D., 477 
Welch, Professor William H., 

M. D., LL. D., 479 

Whitefleld in Norfolk, 382 

White Pine Timber Lands, 56 

Whipping-post, 354 

Wolf Hunt in Norfolk, 222 

Woolen Factory, 233 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



Adams, Edward, 306. 

Adams, Auguste, 308. 

Adams, Asahel, 84. 

Atwater, Ichabod, 90. 

Allen, Ethan, 228. 

Allen, Col. Ethan, 93, 94, 104, 333. 



Allen, Marcus, 245. 

Allen, Noah, 75. 

Allen, Capt. Amos S., 323. 

Allen, Sarah Parmelee, 110. 

Allen, Lewis, 395. 

Allen, Mrs. Elizabeth Bobbins, 398. 



INDEX. 



629 



Allen, William, 311. 

^tna Silk Company, 236, 254, 255, 

"510. 

Ames, Miss Susan, 275. 

Abernathy, Jared, 82, 86. 

Andrew, Rev. Samuel, 41. 

Andre, Major, 95. 

Apley, Philo, 572. 

Apley, Sherman A., 309, 316. 

Ashley, Edmond, 578. 

Ashley, Henry, 531. 

Alvergnat, Monsieur Victor, 428, 544. 

Akins, Lemuel, 194, 234, 236, 242, 
243, 246, 271, 513. 

Akins, Henry, 518, 529, 531. 

Aiken, Edmund, 265, 276, 371, 508, 
518. 

Aiken, Lemuel Jr., 317, 531. 

Aiken, Miss Sarah, 317. 

Aiken, Calvin, 531. 

Aiken, Ashur, 531. 

Aspinwall, Caleb, 81, 84. 

Aspinwall, Aaron, 46, 47, 61, 84, 88. 

Atkins, O. N.. 266. 

Arnold, General Benedict, 30, 89, 103, 
104, 119. 380. 

Arnold, Samuel, 46. 

Andros, Sir Edmund, 36. 

Albro, Rev. John A.. 163. 

At wood, A. P., 255. 

Atwood, Norman, 570. 

Austin, Capt., 118. 

Andrus, George N., 309, 316. 

Andrus, Henry J., 311. 

Andrus, Darwin C, 311. 

Andrus, Mr., 513. 

Austin, Mr., 537. 

Austin, Esther, 578. 

Ayres, General R. B., 327. 

Barber, William, 46, 52, 53, 61, 74. 

Barber, Elijah, 46, 61. 

Barber, Luther, 46, 61. 

Barber, Timothy, 195, 219. 

Bandell, Frederick, 194, 558. 

Bale, Salmon, 194. 

Barnum, Levi, 83, 94, 96. 

Barden, Abraham, 56, 865^ 

BardwelC'Rev. Joel, 77. 

Baker, Stephen, 61. 

Barden, Eliphalet, 195. 

Battell, Esq., Joseph, 65, 70, 140, 144, 
156, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 166, 
193, 194, 233, 234, 262, 263, 266, 
276, 277, 287, 335, 372, 374, 386, 
388, 400, 445, 466, 515, 521, 575. 



Battell, Joseph Jun., 277, 348, 402, 

443, 448, 450, 454, 580, 597. 
Battell, Mrs. Joseph, 165, 442, 447, 

584. 
Battell, Bobbins, 203, 213, 255, 291, 

366, 367, 368, 372, 375, 390, 398, 450, 

454 to 458, 580, 582, 592, 614, 615, 

619. 
Battell, Philip, 464. 
Battelle, Thomas, 445. 
Battell, John. 399. 
Battell, Miss Anna, 215, 292, 398, 399, 

443, 450, 462 to 464, 592. 
Bradley, Capt. John, 89, 193, 194, 246, 

527. 
Bradley, Sylvester, 236, 527. 
Bradley, Edmund Curtiss, 164, 527. 
Balcom, Abraham, 336. 
Balcom, Elizabeth. 527. 
Balcom, Blias, 196. 
Balcom, Isaac, 521. 
Banister, Mrs. Zilpah P. Grant, 177 

to 190. 
Banister, Hon. William B., 174, 188. 
Babbitt, Zerah, 195. 
Baldwin, Amos, 195, 249, 256, 553, 

569, 571. 
Barnum, Adjutant Samuel C, 306, 

311, 316, 317, 319, 321, 323, 324. 
Bradford, Daniel F. & Co., 266. 
Barlow, Levi, 297, 315, 586. 
Barlow, John, 315. 
Barden, Stephen, 306, 312. 
Barden, John, 310. 
Barden, Nathan. 310. 
Barden, Seth. 312. 
Barden, George, 314, 316. 
Barber, Fredrick, 307. 
Bates, Theodore S., 312, 316. 
Bates, John C. 367. 
Barber, Jacob, 509. 
Barber, David, 509, 510. 
Barbour, Prof. J. H., 500, 501. 
Barnard, Hon. Henry, 398. 
Bassett, Rev. William E., 167, 432. 
Bassett, Joseph, 571. 
Bassett, John D., 255, 368, 386. 
Bailey, Ammi. 309. 
Bailey, Philo, 311. 
Bailey, Albert H., 313, 316. 
Bailey, Capt. Joseph, 568. 
Baldwin, Andrew, 569. 
Baldwin, Harvey, 569. 
Baldwin, Dea. Amos, 569. 
Baldwin, Julia, 569. 



630 



IKDEX. 



Barnum, William H., 343, 353, 534. 

Barnes, Joseph G., 380. 

Barlow, Miss Elizabeth, 315. 

Blake, Philo, 306, 312. 

Brace, J. P., 484. 

Bradford, Gov. William, 396, 447. 

Bradford, Rev. Mr., 387, 388. 

Bradford, David, 396. 

Bradford, Lydia, 397. 

Bramble, Franklin, 513, 584, 585. 

Baker, Osmyn, 575. 

Baker, William Lawrence, 575. 

Bradley, James, 585. 

Brainerd, Hez., 38. 

Bancroft, Rev. T. C, 586. 

Blackman, Rev. Virgil, 586. 

Barnes, Rev. W. J., 586. 

Brady, Rev. John D., 588. 

Brady, Rev. John Jr., 588. 

Ballard, W. J., 602. 

Benedict, James, 46, 47, 61, 63, 90, 

13S, 144, 590. 
Benedict, James Jr., 84, 89. 
Beebe, John. 53. 
Beach, Abraham, 82, 83. 
Beach, John, 53, 85, 91, 196, 528, 572. 
Beach, Rev. James, 172. 
Beach, Rev. John WieklifC, 70, 82, 93, 

158, 432. 
Benedict, Francis, 386. 
Beach, Miss Philey, 201. 
Benedict, Rev. Noah, 75, 378. 
Benedict, Capt., 103, 533. 
Bellamy, Rev. Joseph, 77, 123, 147, 

378. 
Eelden, Col., 88. 
Beckley, Richard, 90. 
Beckwith, Luke, 379. 
Beebe, Col., 95. 
Beadle, Col., 111. 
Beecher, Rev. Lyman, D. D., 151, 

171, 359. 
Beecher, Mrs. Rollin, 278. 
Beecher, Miss Catherine, 186, 189. 
Beach, Joshua, 195, 256, 377, 571. 
Benedict, Francis Jr., 196, 200. 
Beach, Lydia, 225. 
Bell, Miss Mary, 201. 
Bell, Miss Flora, 201. 
Beardsley, Daniel, 202. 
Beers, Seth P., 203. 
Eeach, Mary Oakley, 216, 370, 527, 

571. 
Beebe, Sarah, 468. 
Beach, Jacob, 226. 



Beach, W. E. & E. S., 266. 

Bettis, Edward E., 307. 

Bell, Matthew P. Jr., 309. 

Beach, Benjamin J., 313, 316, 572. 

Beach, A. N., 367. 

Bell, Elizabeth M., 469. 

Beach, Abner, 504. 

Beach, Joel, 520, 571. 

Bennett, John H.. 233. 

Bennett, Sarah, 395. 

Beach, William Burr, 527, 571. 

Benedict, Olive, 545. 

Betts, Hannah, 554. 

Beach, Isaac, 381. 

Beach, Charles, 571, 572. 

Beach, Dr. William, 571, 

Beach, Edward, 572. 

Beecher, Rollin, 577. 

Bevens, Mr., 569. 

Bishop, William, 22. 

Bishop, Bela, 91. 

Bigelow, George B., 65. 

Bigelow, Lemuel, 330. 

Bingham, Sarah, 565. 

Bingham, Ozias, 82, 544. 

Bingham, Mrs. Sarah, 561. 

Birge, Miss Mary, 580. 

Birge, Bailey, 265. 

Bigelow, Capt. Benjamin, 196, 232, 

334, 341, 513. 
Bigelow, Mark, 513. 
Bigelow, Lemuel, 513. 
Bigelow, Robert, 513. 
Brinsmade, Rev. Daniel, 378. 
Brinsmade, Gen. Daniel B., 203. 
Bridgman, Henry H., 190. 
Bridgman, Mrs. H. H., 293, 363, 534, 

596, 597. 
Bliss, Rev. J. C, D. D., 602. 
Bierce, Peter, 366. 
Birge, Col. H. W., 314, 
Bird, S. G., 238. 
Birney, James G., 295. 
Bidwell, Dr., 518. 
Bidwell, John Welch, M, D,, 468. 
Bidwell, John D., 468. 
Bidwell, Mrs. Luna Welch, 334. 
Brown, Cornelius 2d, 46, 47, 51, 53, 

53, 61, 75, 138, 139, 140, 142, 144, 

146, 147, 220, 227, 331. 
Brown, Cornelius 3d, 527, 528. 
Brown, Jonathan, 558. 
Brown, Dea. Cornelius, 142. 
Brown, Titus, 53, 57, 82, 87, 89, 138, 

142, 523, 524, 536. 



INDEX. 



631 



Brown, Warren L., 528, 573. 
Brown, Reuben Quincy, 528, 573. 
Brown, Aaron, 195, 522, 523. 
Brown, Ephraim, 90. 
Brown, Stephen, 140, 147. 
Brown, Mrs. Anna, 194. 
Brown, Owen, 232, 550, 552. 
Brown, Capt. Reuben, 195, 335, 527, 

528, 572, 573. 
Brown, John, 390. 
Brown Edmund, 195, 523. 
Brown, Abraham, 523. 
Brown, Esq., Edmund, 242, 249, 277, 

336, 339, 523, 524, 527, 532, 537, 624. 
Brown, R. & P.. 336. 
Brown, George, 265, 297, 525, 528. 
Brown, Samuel, 266. 
Brown, Seth G., 335, 528, 572. 
Brown, Benjamin, 336, 624. 
Brown, Stephen Harlow, 341. 
Brown, George H., 353. 
Brown, Plumb, 367, 537. 
Brown, Edmund 3d, 368, 624. 
Brown, Esther, 524. 
Brown, Abigail, 524. 
Brown, Abljah, 527, 569. 
Brown, Luman, 527, 
Brown, Uriah, 527. 
Brown, Susanna, 527. 
Brown, William, 528, 573. 
Brown, George Jr., 581. 
Brown, Frank Elwood, 528. 
Brown, Plumb, M. D., 537, 624. 
Brown, Miss Mabel E.. 624. 
Brown, Seth G. Jr., 572. 
Brown & Miner, 266. 
Bronson, Frederick, 551. 
Bronson, Theron, 343. 
Bronson, Capt., 109. 
Bejornsen, Christian, 308, 316. 
Blodgett, Rev. Mr., 167. 
Bond, Isabella, 563. 
Buell, Jesse, 225. 
Buell, Dr. Orson, 575. 
Buell, John, 36. 
Buell, Col., 97, 99, 101, 102, 103, 104, 

111, 114, 119. 
Burrall, Col., 100, 103, 117, 118. 
Burt, Abraham, 193, 196. 
Buell, Capt. Jonathan, 225. 
Burt, Col., 258. 
Burt, Rev. Sylvester, 387. 
Burton, Rev. Dr., 456. 
Burrall, Ovid, 386. 
Burdick, William A., 315. 



Burgess, Francis J., 313. 

Bruey, Joseph, 527. 

Bushnell, A., 585, 586. 

Burke, Patrick, 588. 

Burke, Rev. Charles B., 588. 

Bulkley, L. Duncan, M. D., 602. 

Bushnell, Rev. Horace, D. D., 203, 

204, 223, 344. 
Burrell, Judge, 289. 
Bunco, Elizabeth, 561. 
Butler, Samuel, 53. 
Butler, Luther, 61, 164, 545, 547. 
Butler, Mrs. Luther, 201, 545. 
Butler, Isaac, 86, 91. 
Butler, Dea. Jared, 126, 148, 195, 546. 
■Butler, Uri, 289, 547. 
Butler, Calvin, 544. 
Butler, Egbert T., 239, 242, 331, 341, 

342, 343, 352, 353, 366, 367, 543, 544, 

576. 
Butler, Egbert J., 311, 544, 576. 
Butler, William, 297, 547. 
Butler, Oliver B., 239, 268, 286, 292, 

372, 548, 559, 560, 614. 
Butler, Sullivan, 340, 544, 547. 
Butler, Rosanna, 544. 
Bntler, Harriet R., 544, 576. 
Butler, Nathaniel, 547. 
Butler, Elisaph, 547. 
Butler, Jared Jr., 547. 
Butler, Levi, 547. 
Butler, Edwin, 547. 
Butler, Timothy, 547. 
Butler, Almon, 547. 
Butler, Albert, 547. 
Butler, Meriman, 547. 
Butler, Stiles, .547. 
Butler, Hezekiah, 548, 559, .^70. 
Butler, Elizur, 559. 
Butler, Elizabeth, 562. 
Burr, Hepzibah, 570. 
Burr, Beulah, 570. 
Burr, Daniel Jr., 537. 
Burr, Diantha, 527, 571. 
Burr, Polly, 201, 527, 571. 
Burr, Oliver 2d, 530. 
Burr, James, 530. 
Burr, Charlotte, 530. 
Burr, Lucy, 537. 
Burr, Betsey, 537. 
Burr, Rachel, 537. 
Burr, Mary, 537. 
Burr, Ruby. 537. 
Burr, Miss Susan, 537. 
Burr, Eunice, 537. 



632 



t:ot)Ex. 



Burr, Lucia, 571. 

Burr, Elizabeth, 571. 

Burr, Daniel Sd, 537. 

Burr, Harriet E., 537. 

Burr, Martha J., 537. 

Burr, Ralph C, 535. 

Burr, Ebenezer, 44, 46, 47, 61, 62, 63, 

64, 65, 74, 284, 356, 371, 512, 520, 

527, 530, 536, 570, 614. 
Burr, Benjamin, 520. 
Burr, Ebenezer Jr., 69, 522. 
Burr, Aaron Jr., 196, 530. 
Burr, Aaron & Sons, 195. 
Burr, Andrew, 45. 
Burr, Daniel, 194, 336, 519, 520, 536, 

570. 
Burr, Asa, 195, 339, 527, 570. 
Burr, Anna, 523. 

Burr, Oliver, 285, 520, 559, 569, 570. 
Burr, Silas, 308, 336, 341, 519, 536, 

537. 
Burr, Charles M., 308, 537. 
Burr, Erastus, 331, 535, 537. 
Burr, Ebenezer 3d, 341. 
Burr, John, 520. 
Burr, Aaron, 520. 
Bryan, Samuel, 311, 
Camp, Dea. Abraham, 21, 22, 126, 

148, 229. 
Camp, Rev. Abraham, 129. 
Camp, Levi, 195. 
Calhoun, Dr. Benjamin F., 195, 380, 

556. 
Camp, Abel Jr., 195, 297, 305. 
Camp, Moses, 195, 530. 
Camp, Samuel Sheldon, 201, 249, 531. 
Camp, Darius, 244, 360. 
Case, Edward, 509. 
Canfleld, Rev. Thomas, 378. 
Clark, Jonathan. 195. 
Canfield, Daniel, 85. 
Cato, Peter. 74. 
Case, Capt. Asahel, 30, 46, 61, 62, 66, 

74, 91, 138, 144, 194, 507, 554, 558. 
Case, Uriah, 509. 
Case, Ensign Asahel, 91, 194, 507, 

554. 
Case, Jeremiah, 53. 
Cady, Daniel, 216. 
Canfield, Mr., 232. 
Chauncey, Elihu, 50. 
Champion, Rev. Judah, 77, 123, 147. 
Camp, Mr., Ill, 537. 
Case, Mrs. Dorothy, 123. 
Case, Capt. Aaron, 193, 195, 507, 554. 



Canfield, Elmore B., 341, 535. 

Clark, Myron N., 265, 510, 578, 614. 

Case, Mrs. Lucy, 519. 

Case, Everett, 265, 507. 

Crawford, Robert, 308. 

Canfleld, Edwin R., 308. 

Campbell, Charles A., 309. 

Camp, Hiram. 313. 

Campbell, Leander, 313, 316. 

Carman, Edward, 313. 

Chalton, Xavier, 313. 

Clark, James, 313. 

Clark, Rev. Eben L., 395. 

Charpentier, Madame L., 427. 

Cady, Mr. J. Cleveland, 458, 461, 581. 

593. 
Clark, Prentiss, 497, 573. 
Cadey, Ammi, 537. 
Clapp, Bela. 571. 
Camp, Moses Jr., 531. 
Camp, Edward, 531. 
Camp, Caleb J., 531. 
Camp, Samuel, M. D., 531. 
Camp, Charles, M. D., 531. 
Canfleld, Samuel, 538, 547. 
Canfield, Edward, 552. 
Case, Capt. Joseph, 552, 553. 
Case, Hiram, 554. 
Case, Dea. Aaron, 554. 
Clark, Annis, 551. 
Clark, Rev. W. E., 586. 
Clark, Betsey, 578. 
Catlin, B. F., 600. 
Clarkson, Matthew, 602. 
Chamberlain, Mrs. Hattie L., 602. 
Central Loan and Trust Co., 214. 
Celestian, Devantry, 313. 
Clemens, Hiram, 313. 
Clemens, Irwin, 312. 
Crissey, Israel, 340, 535. 
Crissey, Benjamin W., 242, 290, 339, 

341, 520. 535. 536. 
Crissey, Mrs. Benjamin W., 201, 605. 
Crissey, Warren, 537. 
Crissey, Ralph I., 290, 363, 368, 371, 

386, 529. 
Crissey, Olive E., 537. 
Crissey, Theron W., 292, 614. 
Christina, Jean, 309. 
Chimes, The Norfolk, 601. 
Coe, William G., 343. 
Coy, Ephraim, 88, 153, 162, 164, 193, 

195, 513, 531. 
Coy, Elkanah, 195. 
Coy, Mrs. Ephraim, 164. 



Cole, Mrs. C. J., 65, 2G2, 330, 340, 602. 

Corbally, Simon, 229. 

Comstock, Stephen, 61. 

Comstock, Samuel, 75. 

Corbin, Peter, 514. 

Cook, Jesse, 95. 

Cole, Daniel. 528. 

Cole, Ebenezer, 523. 

Couch, Anson, 518. 

Connecticut Arms Co., 240. 

Cotton, Daniel, 195, 244. 

Collins, Mr., 111. 

Converse, Lieut., 116. 

Collins Company, 246, 258. 

Collar, Amos K., 336, 341, 535, 536. 

Collar Brothers. 266. 

Cooke, Lorrin A., 282, 383. 

Collin, Miss Emeline, 469. 

Coggswell, Esther, 467. 

Converse, Major, 323. 

Cross, Rev. J. B., 586. 

Croft, Rev. J., 586. 

Coe, Rev. Daniel. 586. 

Cook, Rose Terry, 196. 

Cobb, Dr. Edward, 598. 

Cobb, Albert, 267. 

Cobb, Frederick, 267. 

Cobb, George W., 310, 316. 

Cross, Benjamin C, 272, 275, 521. 

Crossley, Chauncey, 314. 

Cone, Dea. Samuel, 148, 196, 242, 243, 

258, 537. 566. 
Cone, Dea. Warren, 143, 164, 196, 

203, 235, 242, 243, 258, 259, 277, 512, 

513, 515. 537. 
Cone, Joseph W., 230, 267, 512. 
Cone, Daniel H., 242. 
Cone, John, 297. 
Cowles, Samuel, 22, 46, 47, 61, 63, 66, 

74, 81, 86, 138, 144, 478, 514, 552. 
Cowles, Dea. Samuel 3d, 515. 
Cowles, Samuel Jr., 22, 198, 514, 515. 
Cowles, Silas, 85, 91. 
Cowles, Noah, 86. 
Cowles, James M., 94, 249, 367, 553, 

569, 570. 
Cowles, Joseph N., 367, 368, 553, 614, 

615, 619. 
Cowles, Thomas Trumbull, 295, 296, 

297, 298, 299, 516, 517. 
Cowles, Amasa Sen., 194, 515, 517, 

550. 
Cowles, Amasa Jun., 194, 517. 
Cowles, Sherman H., 292, 297, 299, 

308, 514. 517. 



INDEX. ,,63a. 

Cowles, Joseph, 147, 199, 552. 
Cowles, Ebenezer, 147, 193, 194, 553. 
Cowles, Ebenezer 2d, 195. 
Cowles, Ensign, 115. 
Cowles, Levi, 153. 
Cowles, William B., 517. 
Cowles, Henry M., 517. 
Cowles, Joseph Rockwell, 516. 
Cowles, Alva Seymour, 516. 
Cowles, Rev. Henry, D. D., 469, 478. 
Cowles, Mrs. Alice Welch, 469, 478. 
Cowles, J. G. W., 469. 
Cowles, Rev. John P., 478. 
Cowles, Olive Phelps, 478. 
Cowles, Adna, 515. 
Cowles, Mrs. Abigail, 199. 
Cowles, Moses, 162, 552, 553, 558. 
Cowles, Solomon, 553. 
Cowles, Mrs. Solomon, 552. 
Cowles, William. 553. 
Cowles, Loyal, 553. 

Cowles, Grovenor, 553. 

Cowles, Miss Louise, 553. 

Church, Judge Samuel, 39, 203, 204, 
223, 228. 362. 

Church, F. E., 39L 

Curtiss, Thomas, 81, 84, 113, 115, 
156, 230, 286, 339, 488, 514, 528. 

Curtiss, Henry T., 529. 

Curtiss, Solomon, 84, 88, 336, 339, 
528, 529, 531. 

Curtiss, Dea. Philip E., 528, 529. 

Curtiss, Medad, 510. 

Curtiss, Major, 115. 

Curtiss, Miss Lucy, 201, 529. 

Curtiss, Solomon Jun., 527, 529. 

Curtiss, Mrs. Huldah, 528. 

Curtiss, Miss Anna, 529. 

Curtiss, Thomas Jun., 529. 

Curtiss, Henry, 529. 

Curtiss, Peter, 266, 318, 529, 614. 

Curtiss, Mrs. Peter, 278, 318, 319, 
521. 

Curtiss, Thomas 3d, 529. 

Curtiss, Miss Sarah, 529. 

Curtiss, Mrs. Everett P., 469. 

Curtiss, Augustus P., 266. 

Curtiss, Lewis W., 307. 

Curtiss, Loren R., 307. 

Curtiss, Richard, 547. 

Curtiss, Job, 515. 

Curtiss, Rev. Mr., 124. 

Crumb, William, 572. 

Day, Thomas, 60, 228, 229. 

Day, Rev. Jeremiah, 378. 



634 



INDEX. 



Day, Abram, 246. 

Day, Patrick, 311. 

Daniels, George, 312. 

Danfortli, Cliarles, 372. 

Davis, Rev. Abraham, 586. 

Darrow, Eugene, 614. 

Dean, Rev. Mr., 109. 

Dean, Josepli, 74. 

Dennis, Alfred L.. 265, 347, 522, 

Dennis, Dr. A. S., 335, 524, 602. 

Dean, Reuben, 572. 

Dean, Harlow, 572. 

Decker, Charles N., 306, 308. 

De Mars, Nezair, 313. 

De Mars, Peter, 313. 

De Mars, S. H.. 390. 

Deming, Julius, 191. 

Dennison, Ephraim H., 194, 265, 510. 

Dewey, Mr., 110. 

Decker, Ira, 201. 

De Lacey, Senior, 104. 

Dewell, Capt. John, 244, 261, 267, 

367, 566, 507, 615, 619. 
Dewell, Capt. John H., 312, 567. 
Dewell, James Dudley, 282, 567. 
Dewell, Miss Elizabeth, 567. 
Dewell, Miss Sarah R.. 567. 
Dewell, Miss Mattie, 567. 
De Peu, Rev. John, 460, 463, 578, 

602. 
Dickinson, Thomas, 46, 47. 
Dickinson, Samuel, 262. 
Dickerman, Capt. Hezekiah, 96. 
Didier, Auguste, 317. 
Dwight, Prest. Timothy, 364. 
Dowd, Mabel, 523. 
Doud, Thankful, 75. 
Dowd, Content, 523. 
Dowd, Elizur, 156, 265, 286, 510, 518, 

529, 537. 
Dowd, David Lewis, 336, 537. 
Dowd, William, 537. 
Dowd, Miss Mary, 167, 
Doud, John, 195, 537. 
Doud, Joseph, 196. 
Dowd & Lawrence, 265. 
Dowd & Aiken, 265. 
Dowd, Curtiss & Co., 266. 
Dowd, Cornelius, 46, 47, 56, 61, 62, 

64, 75, 523. 
Doollttle, David, 196, 244. 
Dorchester, Elizabeth, 546. 
Downer, William, 309. 
Downer, William W., 310. 
Downer, William J., 306, 310. 



Downer, Edwin M., 310. 

Doane, Rev. John, 478. 

Doane, Mrs. Alice Welch, 478. 

Dodge, George L., 547. 

Douglas, Rev. James, 586. 

Douglas, Beoajah, 51, 53, 57, 58, 228. 

Dorman, R. A., 602. 

Donahue, Michael, 309, 317. 

Dutton, Thankful, 576. 

Dutton, Jane, 576. 

Dutton, John, 576. 

Dutton, George, 576. 

Dutton, Asa, 297, 576. 

Dutton, Caroline, 562. 
^Dutton, Willard, 236, 243. 

Dudley, George Co., 246. 

Duggan, Colonel, 104. 

Dunbar, Salathiel, 84. 

Duncan, George, 273. 

Evans, Rev. Mr.. 106. 

Evans, Willard, 313, 317. 

Ezra. Rev. George C, 586. 

Emerson. Rev. Ralph, D. D., 150, 
151, 157, 162, 163, 169, 171, 173, 
174, 176, 180, 188, 387, 399, 453, 
466, 489, 560, 575, 583, 584, 622. 

Emerson, Rev. Joseph, 180, 181, 275. 

Emerson, Ralph Waldo, 390. 

Emerson, Prof. Joseph, 465, 466. 

Emerson, Mr. Ralph, 466, 622. 

Emerson, Prof. B. K.. 494. 

Elwell, A. J., 239. 

Eglesion, W. L., 385, .537. 

Egleston, Thomas, 449. 

Eldridge, Rev. Joseph, D. D., 1, 11, 
20, 69, 82, 94, 151, 163, 164, 165, 166, 
167, 168, 169, 173, 229, 270, 277, 291, 
293, 300, 344, 345, 351, 352, 353, 360, 
370, 372, 373, 382, 383, 399, 404 to 
433, 442. 468, 470, 474, 503, 519, 560, 
580, 583, 594. 

Eldridge, Mrs. Joseph, 166, 167, 292, 

433 to 441, 581, 583, 594. 
Eldridge, Rev. Azariah, 436, 465. 
Eldridge, Mrs. Azariah, 443, 450, 464 

to 466. 
Eldridge, Miss Sarah B.. 580, 581. 
Eldridge, Miss Mary, 293, 463, 597, 

598. 
Eldridge, Miss Isabella, 293, 581, 593, 

594, 595, 598. 
Eldridge, Joseph B., 255, 367, 615. 
Eldridge, Miss Alice Bradford, 596. 
Eldridge, Anna Battell, 465. 
Empire Company, 239, 510. 



INDEX. 



635 



Elliott, Rev. Joseph, 586. 

Elliott, Rev. Thomas, 586. 

Empire Company, 239, 240. 

Elmore, Colonel, 85. 

Enos, Colonel, 88, 91. 

Eddy, Dr. Hiram, 476. 

Eddy, Henry H., 273. 

Flagg, Samuel, 53. 

Farrand, Rev. Daniel, 74, 75, 77, 97, 

111, 124, 147, 378. 
Flancher, Flora, 196. 
Flaherty, Michael, 313. 
French, William, 91, 194. 
French, Eenoni, 194. 
Ferry, Joseph and Thomas, 195, 380. 
Ferry, Joseph Jun., 195. 
Ferry, Widow Rachel 202. 
Freedom, Peter, 196, 371, 372. 
Freedom, Bilhah, 268, 371, 372, 548. 
Fenn, John J., 234. 
Feathers, Adam, 309. 
Ferry, Capt. Thomas, 552. 
Free, Rev. Samuel R., 586. 
Ferguson, Rev. J. C, 586. 
Fitton, Rev. James, 588. 
Field, Nathaniel, 82, 83. 
Fitch, Oliver C, 309. 
Filieau, Joachin. 313. 
Frisbie, Dea. David, 126, 148, 161, 

171, 193, 195, 330, 506, 545. 
Frisbie, David Jun., 195, 506, 545. 
Frisbie, John C, 196, 506. 
Frisbie, Irene, 506. 
Frisbie, Polly, .506. 
Frisbie, Miranda, 506. 
Frisbie, Martin Luther, 506. 
Freeman, Alanson, 314. 
Freeman, Henry, 314. 
Forbes, Samuel, 57, 58, 195, 228, 259, 

504. 
Foote, Col., 191. 
Foot, Luther, 193, 194, 559. 
Foot, Asa, 232, 513. 
Foot, Pliny, 247, 551, 559. 
Foot, Luman, 551. 
Fosket, Miss Cynthia L., 214, 441. 
Foster, Ezekiel, 538. 
Frothingham, Professor A. L., 602. 
Fuller, Edward, 85, 88. 
Grant, Joel M., 557. 
Grant, Giles P., 557. 
Grant, Riley A., 557. 
Grant, Harvey, 557. 
Grant, Elijah, 22, 556. 
Grant, James, 194. 



Grant, Roswell, 86, 194, .395, 548, 556, 

557. 
Grant, Moses, 194, 556, 557. 
Grant, Joel, 177, 178, 548, 556. 
Grant, Levi, 194, 556, 557. 
Grant, Miss Anna B., 395, 557. 
Grant, Widow Zilpah, 196. 
Grant, James, 556. 
Grant, Harry M., 248. 360, 557. 
Grant, Joel 2d. 554. 
Grant, Garry Cook, 248, 557. 
Grant, Zilpah Polly, 274, 556. 
Grant, Dea. Elijah, 556. 
Gates, Mrs. Andrew F., 469. 
Gage, Edward B., 311. 
Gains, Theodore, 236. 
Gage, Dr. W. L., 421, 456. 
Gager, William, 309. 
Gray, John, 524. 
Gallager, Michael, 312. 
Gaylord, Ludd. 86. 
Gaylord, Ambrose, 86. 
Gaylord, Benjamin, 194. 
Gaylord, Philemon, 194, 518, 544. 
Gaylord, Amasa, 195. 
Gaylord, Lieut. Giles, 85, 90, 100. 
Gaylord, Justis, 46, 47, 61, 230, 548. 
Gaylord, Reuben, 334, 513, 561. 
Gaylord, Capt. Timothy, 61, 81, 87, 

89, 96, 334, 341, 488, 513, 549. 
Gaylord, Timothy 2d, 82, 87, 248, 370. 
Gaylord, Dea. Edward, 126, 148, 156, 

195, 380, 551, 555, 575. 
Gaylord, Ira, 575. 
Gaylord, Timothy & Reuben, 194. 
Gaylord, Roys Jr., 195, 380, 514. 
Gaylord, David, 195, 247, 256, 537, 

544. 
Gaylord, Samuel N., 194. 
Gaylord, Samuel Jun., 196, 544. 
Gaylord, Joseph, 196, 256, 467, 518, 

543, 544. 
Gaylord, Anson, 201, 218, 544, 584. 
Gaylord, Rev. Joseph F., 417. 
Gaylord, Samuel, 46, 47, 51, 52, 53, 

61, 63, 66, 74, 139, 143, 190, 227, 544, 

549. 
Gaylord, Joseph Jun., 544. 
Gaylord, Munson C, 243, 537. 
Gaylord, E. Lyman, 200, 248, 355. 
Gaylord, Norton, 248. 
Gaylord, Capt. Hiram, 277, 518. 
Gaylord, Lieut. Hiram D., 308, 316. 
Gaylord, Edward. 336. 
Gaylord, Edward L., 371, 538. 



636 



INDEX. 



Gaylord, Rev. Reuben, 487, 489. 

Gaylord, Mrs. Mary Curtiss, 488, 519. 

Gaylord, Myron, 490. 

Gaylord, Timothy C, 490, 545. 

Gaylord, Timothy, 514, 518, 545. 

Gaylord, Philemon Curtiss, 518. 

Gaylord, Lewis, 518. 

Gaylord, Henry J., 544. 

Gaylord, Levi P., 544. 

Gaylord, Celestia, 544. 

Gaylord, Julia, 544. 

Gaylord, Chauncey, 544, 545. 

Gregory, Rev. Mr., 124. 

Green, Martin, 139, 195, 314. 

Green, Mrs. Nathan, 554. 

Green Mountain Company, 258. 

Gleason, Rev. John F., 288, 439. 

Geer, Robert A., 570. 

Geer, Robert C, 368. 

George, John. 518. 

George, Stephen, 518. 

Germond, Rev. Philip, 586. 

Griswold, Keziah, 565. 

Griswold, Col. Willis, 549. 

Griswold, Edward. 53. 

Griswold, Roswell, 556. 

Griswold, Noah, 53. 

Griswold, Huldah, 528. 

Griswold, David, 53. 

Gillett, Rev. Alexander, 172. 

Gilbert, Amos, 256, 571. 

Gilbert, Aaron, 266, 357. 

Gilbert, William L., 343. 

Gingell, Richard C, 309. 

Gilbert, James, 569, 571. 

Gilbert, John, 571. 

Gilbert, Thomas, 573. 

Gllliland, Esq., 109. 

Gridley, Dr. T. J., 395. 

Godard, George Seymour, 261. 

Gordon, Charles, 307. 

Gold, Rev. Mr., 333. 

Gough, John B., 360. 

Goff, Mr.. 552. 

Goodwin, Solomon, 577. 

Goodwin, Hannah, 577. 

Goodwin, Professor F. J., 602. 

Guilford, L. T., 177. 

Guiteau, Phebe, 274. 

Guiteau, Dr. Ephraim, 468, 481, 543, 

565, 590. 
Guiteau, Louisa, 468. 
Guiteau, Dr. Francis. 481. 
Guiteau, Dr. Philo, 481, 516, 565 
Guiteau, Dr. Corydon, 481, 565. 



Guiteau, Rev. Sheridan, 481, 565. 

Guiteau, Phebe Sophia, 481, 565. 

Guiteau, Louisa, 481, 565. 

Guiteau, Almuris, 516, 565. 

Guiteau, Delia, 565. 

Gunn, Rev. Lewis, 586. 

Hall, Abraham, 66, 126, 148. 

Hall, John, 38. 

Hall, Hiland. 84. 

Hall, Benjamin, 50. 

Hall, Dea. Abijah, 201. 

Hall, Merrick G.. 577. 

Hall, Jehiel, 75, 83. 

Hall, Desiah, 561. 

Hall, Joseph, 91. 

Hall, Asaph, 573. 

Hall, Asaph Jun., 573. 

Hall, Prof. Asaph, 282, 569. 

Hall, Moses J., 313. 

Hamlin, Jabez, 50. 

Hamblin, Joel, 84. 

Halt, Capt. David, 89. 

Hawley, Earl Percy, 194, 331, 483, 

576. 
Hawley, Elisha, 195. 
Hawley, Eleazer, 248. 
Hawley, John, P. & Co., 267. 
Hawley & Sibley, 267. 
Hawley, Rev. John P., 386, 576. 
Hawley, Laura, 483. 
Hawley, Dea. Philo, 576. 
Hawley, Samuel, 576. 
Hawley, Austin, 576. 
Hazen, Col., 103. 
Hazelton, John, 228. 
Hartford Spring & Axle Co., 240, 

255. 
Hart, Truman, 578. 
Hart, Louise, 578. 
Harris, Rev. I., 586. 
Hatch, Eliphalet, 23. 
Haven, Professor Joseph, D. D., 169. 
Harrison, Mrs. George D., 469. 
Hart, Rev. Asahel, 378. 
Heady, David, 85. 
Heady, John, 339, 544. 
Heady, Mrs. John, 201, 
Hearty, James, 314. 
Hewet, William, 81, 87. 
Hennessey, John, 311. 
Hinman, Col.. 93. 
Hitchcock, President, 187. 
Hills, Silas, 233. 
Hinchman, John J., 238, 250. 
Hill, Lewis. 261. 



INDEX. 



637 



Hlne, Edward, 314, 316. 

Hinsdale, Elisha, 389. 

Hinsdale, Col. Hosea, 521. 

Hinckley, Esther, 567. 

Hills, Mrs., 571. 

Hill, Rev. W. E., 583. 

Hiimurst, The, 601. 

Holt, Isaac, 22, 48, 66, 138, 144, 258, 

274, 523, 560, 561. 
Holt, William, 560. 
Holt, Eleazer, 83, 140, 157, 171, 195, 

387, 561, 562. 
Holt, Allen S., 194, 547, 561, 562. 
Holt, Nicholas, 84, 88, 91, 156, 195, 

544, 561, 562. 
Holt, Isaac Jr., 560, 562, 577. 
Holt, Stephen, 84, 195, 259, 561, 562. 
Holt, Morris, 561. 
Holt, Jacob, 153, 560. 
Holt, Nathan P., 195. 
Holt, Miss Harriet, 201, 229, 662. 
Holt, Miss Almiris, 201, 662. 
Holt, Henry J., 229, 244, 353, 662. 
Holt, Mercy, 561. 
Holt, Phebe. 562. 
Holt, Lyman, 562, 
Holt, Judge George B., 563. 
Holt, Rev. Nicholas, 562. 
Holt, Erastns 2d, 562. 
Holt, Aretus, 562. 
Holt, Nathan, 562. 
Holt, Erastus, 562. 
Holt, Roger, 562. 
Holt, Rev. Eleazer, 562. 
Holt, Stephen Jay, 562. 
Holt, George H., 562, 577. 
Holt, Edward D., 562. 
Holt, Almira, 562. 
Holt, Keturah, 562, 577. 
Howard, Frederick T., 602. 
Howard, Charles M., 341, 602. 
Hollister, Rev. Theron, 586. 
Hoag, Rev. J. H., 586. 
Hooker, Hon. John, 602. 
Hooker, Isabella Beecher, 602. 
Horsford, Timothy, 43, 45, 53, 58, 59, 

69, 137, 142, 244. 
Hoyt, Bbenezer, 81, 87. 
Hoskins, Daniel. 85, 89. 
Holmes, Uriel, 191. 
Hoadley, David, 191, 192. 
Hollister, Charles N., 314, 379. 
Holley, Alexander H., 343. 
Hovendon, Thomas, 390. 
Hobbs, Professor William H., 494. 



Holmes, Willard, 506. 

Hollister, J., 513. 

Hosmer, Capt. Thomas, 517. 

Hosmer, Aaron, .522. 

Howe, Almon, 527. 

Horton, Rev. J., 586. 

Hotchkiss, Enos. 46. 

Hotehkiss, Oliver L., 162. 

Hotchkiss, James, 46, 52, 53, 61, 63, 

19.5. 
Hotchkiss, Oliver, 196, 340. 
Hotchkiss, Daniel, 60, 201, 367, 536, 

558, 615. 
Hotchkiss, Cyrus, 536. 
Hotchkiss, Jonah. 60. 
Hotchkiss, Samuel, 81, 83, 87, 88. 
Hotchkiss, Samuel Jr., 81, 88, 195. 
Hotchkiss, Josiah, 88, 196. 
Humphrey, Daniel, 22, 565. 
Humphrey, Samuel, 332. 
Humphrey, Joseph D., 389. 
Humphrey, Dudley, 26, 48, 80, 81, 

140, 198, 541, 565. 
Humphrey, Mercy, 564. 
Humphrey, Mrs. Dudley, 221. 
Humphrey, Asahel, 48, 140, 549, 565. 
Humphrey, Clarence, 389. 
Humphrey, Malachi, 195, 573. 
Humphrey, Jonathan, 51, 53, 56. 
Humphrey, Levi, '549. 
Humphrey, John, 53. 
Humphrey, Merrell, 297, 305, 566. 
Humphrey, Timothy, 549. 
Humphrey, Lloyd, 549. 
Humphreys, Michael, 53, 58, 74, 76, 

126, 140, 148, 481, 564, 565. 
Humphrey, James. 549. 
Humphrey, Phebe, 481, 565. 
Humphrey, Elizabeth, 195. 
Humphrey, Noah, 53. 
Humphrey, Mrs. Urania Battell, 162, 

166, 401, 433, 443, 450, 458 to 462, 

584. 
Humphrey, Dudley 2d, 565, 566, 567. 
Humphrey, John 2d, 297, 298, 299, 

565. 
Humphrey, Griswold, 566. 
Humphrey, Dea. James, 168, 297, 

338. 566. 
Humphrey, William, 312. 
Humphrey, Horace, 292, 594. 
Humphrey, Edward J., 313, 316. 
Humphrey, Malachi, 549. 
Humphrey, Mary, 566, 567. 
Humphrey, Dr. Asahel, 566. 



638 



ENDEX. 



Hubbard, Edward, 547. 

Hubbard, Jonas, 85, 89. 

Hubbard, Lavinia M., 469. 

Hulburl, Obadiah, 537. 

Hulburt, Halsey, 525. 

Hurlbut, Leonard. 389. 

Hulburt, Joseph W., 578, 583. 

Hurlbut, Samuel, 389. 

Hurlbut, S. & L.. 552. 

Hurlbut, Lemuel, 389. 

Hull, Joseph, 195. 

Huntington .fe Day, 246, 258. 

Hutching, Col.. 87. 

Hurn, Rev. J. A.. 586. 

Hungerford, Lueinda, 568. 

Hyde, James. 309. 

Imlay, William H., 234, 235. 

Ives, Rev. Jesse, 14, 75, 124. 

Ives, Oapt. Titus, 22, 48, 80, 90, 142, 

198, 370, 509, 510, 511. 
Ives, George, 138. 
Ives, Rebecca, 196. 
Ives, Hubert L., 266. 
Ives, Joseph, 509. 
Ives, Mrs. Ellsworth D., 469. 
Jay, John. 229. 
Jaokman, Matthew, 309. 
Jackman, Jule, 309. 
Jackman, Frank, 330, 331, 543. 
Jenks, Nathan, 467. 
Jerrolds, Rev. Mr., 586. 
Jones, Joseph, 171, 194, 356, 512, 614. 
Jones, Keziah, 512. 
Jones, Laura. 512. 
Jones, Prudence, 195. 
Jones, Clarissa. 513. 
Johnson, Samuel, 196, 336, 522, 524, 

537. 
Johnson, Jeremiah, 256, 573. 
Johnson, Zebadiah. 522. 
Johnson, George, 267. 
Johnson, Harvey, 524. 
Johnson, Myron C, 256. 
Johnson, Philemon, 196. 256, 573. 
Johnson, Mrs. Lyman, 61, 547. 
Johnson, Mrs. Minnie-Brown, 528. 
Johnston, Prof., 33. 
Judd, William P., 23.6, 585. 
Judd. Thomas, 515. 
Knapp, Ezra, 22, 44, 46, 52, 53, 54, 

55, 56, 61, 62, 63, 66, 74, 76, 138, 

139, 144. 
Knapp, Abraham, 46, 61, 84. 
Knapp, Caleb, 195. 
Knapp, Isaac. 47. 



Knapp, Hylan, 195. 

Knapp, Samuel 3d, 195, 562, 577. 

Knapp, Ebenezer, 52, 53, 56, 61, 63, 

66, 138, 144. 
Knapp, Dr. Ezekiel, 561. 
Knapp, Thomas, 61, 63, 
Knapp, Isaac R.. 308. 
Knapp, Elijah, 84, 88. 
Knapp, Samuel, 93, 138, 144, 544, 560. 
Knapp, Isaac M.. 313. 
Knapp, Rev. Isaac, 561. 
Knapp, Col. Horace B., 93, 375, 343, 

544, 562. 
Knapp, Samuel 4th, 577. 
Knapp, Hiram, 577. 
Knapp, Zadok, 46. 
Knapp, Major Bushnell, 144, 193, 544, 

561, 562. 
Knapp, Bowden D., 309, 317. 
Knapp, Isaac Jun., 577. 
Knapp, Hannah, 577. 
Knapp, Mercy, 577. 
Karmann, George J., 306. 
Kasson, Mrs. Mary Robbins, 395, 399. 
Keep, Rev. John, 97. 
Kellogg, Mrs. H., 201. 
Keyes, Aaron, 239, 242, 257. 
Keyes, Charles E., 310, 316. 
Keyes, Daniel A., 310. 
Kelley, Abbie, 298. 
Keating, Rev. P., 589, 590. 
Kerrigan, Thomas, 311. 
Keller, George, 593. 
Kendall, Mrs. Marie H.. 600. 
Kingsbury, Andrew, 48. 
Kingsbury, Sarah, 561. 
King, Gen. William T., 203. 
Kingsbury, Stephen, 590. 
Kilbourn, Jonathan S., 237, 249, 256, 

336, 366, 533. 
Kilbourn, Joseph K., 238, 250, 231, 

253, 279. 
Kilbourn, Edward B., 249, 253. 
Kilbourn, H. C. & J. K., 250. 
Kilbourn, J. S. & Son, 250, 261. 
Kilbourn, Roswell, 258. 
Kilbourn, Blisha, 366. 
Kilbourne, Payne Kenyon, 487, 563. 
Kilburn, James, 537. 
Knight, Mrs. Dr., 371. 
Lawrence, Nehemiah, 16, 74. 
Lawrence, Capt. Isaac, 329. 
Lawrence, David, 47. 
Lawrence, Gideon, 46, 61, 62, 63, 66. 
Lawrence, Bigelow, 509. 



INDEX. 



639 



Lawrence, Daniel Jr., 51, 53, 54, 55, 

58, 60, 198, 228. 
Lawrence, Grove, 510, 522. 
Lawrence, Rufus, 46, 61. 
Lawrence Francis Le Baron, 395. 
Lawrence William, 266, 357, 360, 395, 

553, 560, 575. 
Lawrence, Samuel, 51, 509. 
Lawrence, John, 509. 
Lawrence, E. Grove, 61, 142, 203, 235, 

236, 239, 242, 244, 247, 257, 264, 265, 

272, 286, 289, 291, 343, 360 510, 585, 

614, 619. 
Lawrence, Judge Grove, 395, 396. 
Lawrence, Ariel, 85, 356, 386, 509, 

510, 521. 

Lawrence & Swift. 356, 510. 
Lawrence & Stevens, 356, 510. 
Lawrence, James Robbing, 395, 396. 
Lawrence, Luther, 86, 89, 509, 510. 
Lawrence, Miss Eliza. 395. 
Lawrence, Miss Sarah, 395. 
Lawrence, Frederick, 562. 
Lawrence, Hiram P., 168, 247, 368, 

511, 614. 

Lawrence, Nathaniel S., 331, 509, 511. 
Lawrence, Mrs. Abbie Moses, 191, 

525. 
Lawrence Machine Company, 239, 

246, 511. 
Lawrence, Edmund D., 239, 367. 
Lawrence, Augustus P., 247, 257, 510, 

562. 
Lawrence, A. & H. P., 247. 
Lawrence, James, 509. 
Lawrence, Elijah, 509. 
Lawrence, Ariel Jr., 509. 
Lawrence, Levi, 510. 
Lawrence, Grove P.. 511. 
Lawrence, Jerusha P., 511. 
Lawrence, Susan P., 511. 
Lawrence, Elizabeth H., 511. 
Lawrence, Miss Augusta P., 511. 
Lawrence, Nancy A., 511. 
Lawrence, Miss Clara, 581. 
Lake, Miss Marcia, 605. 
Lake, Lois, 577. 
Lallier, Monsieur, 428. 
Lafayette, General, 88, 95. 
Laber, John, 313. 
Lawson, David. 196. 
Lamb, Thomas. 228. 
Lane, A. A., 237. 
Landon Brothers, 266. 
La Bouss, Gabriel, 312. 



Larned, Mrs. Irene Battell, 160, 402, 

443, 450, 451 to 454, 579, 580. 
Larned, Professor William, 453. 
Lewis, Phineas, 53. 
I;ee, Rev. Jonathan, 77, 123, 378. 
Lee, Rev. Chauncey, 156, 172, 387. 
Lee, Nathaniel, 537. 
Lester, Andrew, 81, 8.3, 88. 
Leach, William, 86. 
Lewis, Charles A., 306, 307. 
Lewis, George M., 310. 
Le Baron, Dr. Francis, 397, 401, 447, 
Le Baron, Miss Elizabeth, 392. 
Le Baron, Miss Priscilla, 396. 
Le Baron, Dr. Lazarus, 397. 
Le Baron, Rev. Lemuel, 398. 
Le Baron, Miss Lydia Bradford, 401. 
I^ent, Rev. Isaac, 586. 
Levi, J. S., 591. 

Lincoln, Abraham, 300, 306, 357, 574. 
Linshott, Arthur, 312. 
Little, Mrs. Thomas H., 469. 
Loomis, Joseph, 194, 518. 
Loomis, Elijih, 244. 
Loomis, Mary, 527. 
Lockwood, Seth, 570. 
Lockwood, Mary, 570. 
Loveland, Daniel & Son, 195. 
Loveland, Elizabeth, 468. 
Lodge, Rev. Thomas, 580. 

Lusk, James, 53. 

Ludenton, Aaron, 196. 

Lusk, Dr., .57.3. 

Lyman, Maj. General, 19. 

Lyman, Miss Hannah, 189. 

Lyon, Miss Mary, 182, 184, 186, 187. 

Lyman, Rev. David, 586. 

Lyman, Theodore, 602. 

Mack, Ebenezer. 83, 94, 96. 

Mars, Jupiter, 91, 370, 371. 

Mason, Elijah, 91. 

McCarty, Dennis. 259. 

McAlpine, John, 389. 

McMahon, Bishop, 590. 

McKean, Linus, 139, 195. 

McEwen, Rev. Albert, 382. 

McEwen, Robert, 382. 

McNeil, Hiram, 552. 

McCormick, William, 190. 

McCook, Col., 306. 

McDonald, Alexander, 307. 

McDonald, John, 310. 

Marsh. John. 36. 

Manross, Samuel, 52, 53, 61, 63, 65. 
139, 143. 



640 



INDEX. 



Mars, Fanny, 370, 371. 

Mars, Dea. James, 91, 201, 229, 231, 

300, 370, 504, 512. 
Mars, Rev. Jolin, 370. 
Mars, Charlotte, 370. 
, Marsh, Rev. Frederick, 179, 387. 
Maltbie, Benjamin, 195, 507, 518. 
Maltbie, Jacob. 195. 
Maltbie, Alouzo J., 292. 
Maltbie, Elizur, 309, 316. 
Maltbie, Elou, 507, 518. 
Maltbie, Jesse, 553. 
Maltbie, Charles B.. 586. 
Mayhew, Capt., 108. 
Manley, Amos, 268. 
Mason, James L., 307. 
Martin, George, 310. 
Mason, William, 311. 
Martindale, General, 324. 
Marvin, Eugene, 377. 
Marshall, Henry Rutgers, 596. 
Marvin, George A., 600. 
Meeker, Phineas, 146, 200, 336, 527, 

571. 
Merrills, Prudence, 565. 
Mills, Michael P., 18, 60, 141, 157, 

165, 190, 101, 194, 203, 234, 292, 330, 

S40, 356, 379, 503, 504, 539, 545. 546, 

560, 615. 
Mills, Michael G., 289, 546, 615. 
Mills, Frederick, 272. 
Mills, Constantine, 89, 195, 555. 
Mills, Augustus, 194. 
Mills, Joseph, 23, 46, 47, 61, 63, 75, 

89, 126, 138. 144, 148, 524, 545, 555. 
Mills, Dea. Joseph, 545, 
Mills, Capt. Michael, 48, 87, 370, 509, 

545, 546. 
Mills, Miss Susan L., 545. 
Miils, Hiram, 201, 297, 539. 
Mills, Charles H., 66, 513, 546. 
Mills, Myron H., 266, 291, 292, 357, 

529, 545. 
Mills, Eden, 83, 193, 194, 504, 545. 
Mills, Lawrence, 164, 194, 297, 331, 

545. 
Mills, Samuel, 46, 47, 61, 62, 66, 75, 

81, 119, 126, 138, 144, 148, 505, 545. 
Mills, Prof. John L., 511, 546. 
Mills, Abigail, 75. 
Mills, Simeon, 85, 89, 545. 
Mills, Benoni, 195, 545, 555. 
Mills, Smith, 555. 
Mills, Irad, 306. 545. 
Mills, Samuel J., 306, 316. 



Mills, Miss Ellen R., 455. 

Mills, Benjamin, 505. 

Mills, Ralph, 509. 

Mills, Zenus, 509. 

Mills, Sarah Pettibone, 545. 

Mills, Daniel, 545. 

Mills & Crissey, 266. 

Mills, Margaret, 546. 

Mills, Sarah, 546. 

Mills, Rev. Gideon, 552. 

Mills, Rev. Joseph, 555. 

Mills, Roger, 555. 

Mills, Abiram, 579. 

Mills, John Milton, 545. 

Mills, Francis B., 545. 

Mills, Frederick Ira, 54G. 

Miller, Clarissa Pinney, 568. 

Miller, Martha, 568. 

Miller, Godfrey, 308. 

Miller, John B.. 312. 

Minor, John, 86. 

Miner, Dea. Noah, 148, 195, 200, 216, 

568, 571. 
Miner, Alden, 571. 
Miner, Thomas Jr., 195. 
Miner, Seth, 266, 571. 
Miner, Horace, 571. 
Miner, Albert, 571. 
Miner, Preston. 571. 
Millett, Rev. Joseph, 586. 
Mitchel, Rev. William, 150. 
Mitchell, Rev. John, 163. 
Miles, Sterling, 551. 
Montgomery, Gen. Richard, 30. 
Moore, Andrew, 22, 81, 86. 
Moore, Rev. Christopher, 589. 
Mott, Capt. Edward, 93. 
Morris, Governeur, 229. 
Moses, Benoni, 139, 143, 226. 
Moses, Jonathan, 195, 524, 527. 
Moses, Jesse, 195, 524, 527. 
Moses, Thomas, 195, 445, 524. 
Moses, Dr. Salmon, 445, 524, 526. 
Moses, Joshua Jr., 196, 199, 527, 537. 
Moses, Joshua 3d, 524, 527. 
Moses, Joshua Nelson, 200, 339, 527. 
Morse, Charles, 254. 
Morehouse, Edward Y., 267, 307. 
Moses, Abigail, 424. 
Moses, Ruth, 524. 
Moses, Jonah, 524, 527. 
Moses, Thomas Jr., 525. 
Moses, Ralph, 525. 
Moses, Benjamin, 525. 
Moses, Julia, 525. 



INDEX. 



641 



Moses, Betsey, 525. 

Moses, Eunice, 525. 

Moses, Ruth, 525. 

Moseley, William H., 602. 

Murray, Jeffery, 81, 87. 

Murray, Jasper, 83, 88. 

Munger, Elizur, 85, 156, 195, 371, 504, 

507. 
Munger, Reuben, 85, 507, 518, 532. 
Munger, Jonathan, 509. 
Munson, Philo, 194. 
Munson, Joshua, 216. 
Munson, Kneeland J., 216, 217, 366, 

367. 
Murphy, Russell A., 307, 316. 
Murphy, Benjamin A., 309. 
Murphy, Eugene, 314. 
Munson, Augustus, 572. 
Munson, Rev. Mr., 111. 
Natter, E. W. F.. 374. 
Nettleton, Joshua, 194, 576. 
Nettleton, William, 194, 577. 
Nettleton, Joshua Jun., 194, 576. 
Nettleton, Titus, 194, 331, 576. 
Nettleton, Miss Margaret, 278, 577. 
Nettleton, Desiah, 278, 577. 
Nettleton, Joseph P., 314, 576, 577. 
Nettleton, John, 330, 545, 576, 577. 
Nettleton, George, 545, 576. 
Nettleton, Roger, 576. 
Nettleton, Mark, 576. 
Nettleton, Joseph, 576. 
Neilson, Col.. 253. 
Newcomb, L. Z., 395. 
Newbold, James, 310. 
Newell, Rev. Abel, 77, 128, 378. 
Norfolk Bank, 366. 
Norfolk Savings Bank, 265, 367. 
Norfolk Silk Company, 254. 
Norfolk Woolen Company, 237. 
Norfolk Manufacturing Co., 238. 
Norfolk Leather Company, 242, 511. 
Norfolk Hosiery Company, 249, 251, 

252, 318. 

Norfolk & N. B. Hosiery Co., 252, 

253, 254. 
Norfolk House, 267. 

Northway, Samuel & Son, 195, 590. 
Northway, Samuel D., 168, 203, 216, 

242, 335, 366, 569. 
Northway, Timothy D., 195. 
Northway, S. D. Mfg. Co., 239, 241, 

267. 
Northway, James Oscar, 267. 
Northway, Charles K., 335, 569. 



Northrop, Supt., 348. 

North, Bbenezer, 515. 

Noble, Peter, 83, 94. 

Norton, Henry, 60. 

Norton, Phineas, 82, 87. 

Norton, Alvin, 562. 

Norton, Ephraim, 194. 

Norton, Levi, 84, 88. 

Norton, Lewis, 387. 

Norton, Dea. Sylvanus, 148, 195. 

Norton, Stephen, 195, 247, 555. 

Norton, Dea. Dudley, 148, 257, 277, 

562, 577. 
Norton, Isaac, 562. 
Norton, Anson, 194, 201, 367, 383, 537, 

556. 
Norton, William J., 298, 506, 556. 
Norton, Ebenezer, 195, 523, 524, 558. 
Norton, Ebenezer Jun.. 523. 
Norton, Sylvanus Jr., 195. 
Norton, Stephen Jr., 195, 555, 568, 

569, 570. 
Norton, Robert, 277. 
Norton, Jonathan, 196, 555. 
Norton, Miss Eliza, 276. 
Norton, Rev. John F., 276, 277. 
Norton, Dea. Lewis Mills, 276. 
Norton, Mrs. H. F., 277. 
Norton, Edward, 277. 
Norton, Mrs. William J., 371. 
Norton, Chandler Dowd, 523. 
Norton, Mabel Holt, 523. 
Norton, William, 524. 
Norton, Chandler, 524. 
Norton, Rebeckah, 524. 
Norton, Sarah, 524, 
Norton, John, 555. 
Norton, Thomas, 555. 
Norton, Charles Lyman, 556. 
Norton, Experience, 557. 
Oakley, Capt. William, 571. 
Oakley, Burr. 571. 
Oakley, Mary L., 571. 
Olmsted, Henry, 395. 
Odell, William C, 573. 
O'Connor, William, 614. 
Orvis, David, 82, 87, 195. 
Orvis, Roger, 83, 88. 
Orvis, Samuel, 84, 88. 
Orvis, Eliezer, 85. 
Orvis, Joseph, 194. 
Orvis, Joseph Jr., 194. 
O'Reilly, Bishop, 589, 590. 
O'Neil, Ann. 588. 
O'Reilly, Rev. Charles, 588. 



642 



INDEX. 



O'Brien, Matthew, 201. 

O'Brien, John, 314. 

Osborn, Samuel, 569. 

Osborne, Judge, 396. 

Oviatt, Nelson, 525. 

Osburn, Rev. Sylvanus, 77. 

Palmer, Reuben, 90, 524. 

Palmer, George, 44, 52, 53, 57, 58, 61, 

62, 140, 228. 
Palmer, Mrs. Silas, 547. 
Pain, Stephen, 194, 231, 538. 
Packard, Rev. W. K., 444. 
Pardee, Charles, 507. 
Parmeter, Philomela, 523. 
Paterson, John, 51, 53. 
Parker, Bphraim, 81, 87, 380. 
Parker, Jotham, 83. 
Pardia, Ebenezer, 61. 
Parmelee, Capt., 105. 
Parrit, James, 193, 194, 196, 200, 260, 

297. 
Parritt, Zalmon, 260, 297, 531. 
Parrett, Theodore, 314, 316. 
Pratt, Capt. Isaac, 225. 
Piatt, Dea. Levi, 269. 
Paul, Jean. 312. 
Pease, Earl P., 195, 229, 233, 234, 

508. 538. 
Pease, Nathaniel, 138, 195, 231, 244, 

508, 538. 
Pease, Col. Augustus P., 562. 
Pease, Mrs. Desiah, 195. 
Pease, Phineas, 508. 
Pease, Calvin, 508, 509. 
Pease, Louisa, 508. 
Pease, Allen, 508, 533. 
Pease, Nathaniel Jr., 508. 
Pease, Obadiah, 508. 
Pease, Dr. William A., 562. 
Pease, J]lizaheth, 562. 
Pease, Helen B., 562. 
Pease, Harriet A., 562. 
Pease, Stephen Holt, 562. 
Pease, Capt. George E., 562. 
Pease, Salmon, 234. 
Phelps, Capt. John, 23, 520, 544, 545, 

590. 
Phelps, Col. Jeremiah W., 85, 91, 

139, 147, 156, 193, 194, 197, 543, 544, 

575. 
Phelps, Elijah, 85, 86, 91. 
Phelps, Abel, 56, 57, 66, 67, 74, 227. 
Phelps, Joseph, 53, 91. 
Pbelps, David, 46, 47, 53, 56. 
Phelps, Benjamin, 53. 



Phelps, Arab, 244, 387. 

Phelps, Jedediah, 195, 386, 543, 544, 

561, 575. 
Phelps, Capt. Augustus, 195, 543, 544. 
Phelps, Capt. Darius, 83, 194, 520, 

521, 530, 543. 
Phelps, Dea. Darius, 141, 148, 1Q3, 

203, 297, 299, 363, 371, 375, 520, 531, 

580, 614, 615. 
Phelps, Wilcox, 194, 200, 520, 576. 
Phelps, Elkanah, 48. 
Phelps, Bethuel, 194, 570. 
Phelps, Launcelot, 194, 557. 
Phelps, George, 348. 
Phelps, William C, 297, 552, 554, 

558. 
Phelps, John, 561. 
Phelps, Isaac, 561. 
Phelps, Morris, 561. 
Phelps, Daniel, 561. 
Phelps, Mercy, 561. 
Phelps, Desiah, 561. 
Phelps, Abiram, 561. 
Phelps, Mrs. Lydia, 561. 
Phelps, Polly, 565. 
Phelps, Mrs. Mary Aiken, 520, 521. 
Phelps, Levi P., 543. 
Phelps, Noah A., 504. 
Phelps, Dorotha, 507. 
Phelps, Dea. Asahel G., 507. 
Pettibone, Col. Giles, 22, 28, 46, 47, 

48, 56, 57, 61, 62, 63, 64, 66, SO, 81, 

87, 140, 199, 229, 230, 233, 264, 370, 

380, 504, 505, 512, 538, 539, 540, 614, 

615. 
Pettibone, Jonathan, 51, 53, 60, 195, 

467, 512. 
Pettibone, Eli, 16, 46, 47. 61, 62, 63, 

86, 108. 
Pettibone, Judge Augustus, 140, 156, 

157, 161, 163, 195, 234, 272, 277, 339, 

510, 541, 615, 619. 
Pettibone, Abel, SS. 
Pettibone, Isaac, 46, 47, 53, 56, 61, 

63, 64, 66, 74, 158. 
Pettibone. Ahijah, 508. 
Pettibone, Daniel, 83, 91, 196, 553, 

570. 
Pettibone, Elijah, 81, 87, 91. 
Pettibone, Dea. Amos, 60, 89, 141, 

148, 165, 297, 298, 299, 304, 360, 518, 

539, 556. 578. 
Pettibone, Rev. Philo C, 518. 
Pettibone, Giles Jr., 70, 221, 262, 386, 

508, 522, 539, 614. 



INDEX. 



643 



Pettibone, 
Pettibone, 
Pettibone, 
Pettibone. 
Pettibone, 
Pettibone, 
Pettibone, 
Pettibone, 
Pettibone, 
Pettibone, 
Pettibone, 
Pettibone, 
Pettibone, 

C14. 
Pettibone, 
Pettibone, 

196, 229, 
Pettibone, 
Pettibone, 
Pettibone, 

489, 518. 
Pettibone, 

541. 
Pettibone, 
Pettibone, 
Pettibone, 
Pettibone, 

514. 
Pettibone, 
Pettibone, 
Pettibone, 
Pettibone, 
Pettibone, 
Pettibone, 
Pettibone, 
Pettibone, 
Pettibone, 
Pendleton, 

573. 
Pendleton, 

585. 
Pendleton, 
Pendleton, 
Pendleton, 
Pendleton, 
Pendleton, 
Pendleton, 
Pendleton, 
Pendleton, 

573. 
Pendleton, 
Pendleton, 
Pendleton, 
Pendleton, 
Pendleton, 



Mrs. Louisa Welch, 470. 

Polly, 589. 

Louisa, 539. 

Julia, 539. 

Eunice, 539. 

Charlotte, 539. 

Susan, 539. 

Dasiah Humphrey, 539. 

Levi, 539, 540. 

Loisa, 194. 

Maria, 529. 

John, 538. 

Jonathan Humphrey, 539, 

Sarah, 539, 546. 

Lieut. Samuel, 21, 87, 89, 

381, 518. 

Josiab, 194, 511, 522, 538. 

Sereno, 272, 274, 380, 539. 

Rev. Ira, 334, 468, 479, 

Judge Rufus, 243, 539, 540, 

S.amuel Jr., 196, 518. 
Asa G., 268, 366, 367. 
Col. Ira, 479. 
Benjamin Welch, 479, .504, 

Mary Louise, 479. 

Rosanna, 504, 505. 

Ozias, 508. 

Roswcll, 509. 

Mrs. Julia, 512, 522. 

Lorrin, 518. 

Alanson, 518. 

Dr. Luman, 518. 

Rev. Roswell, 518. 

Ethan, 335, 567, 568, 569, 

Russell, 246, 567, 573, 584, 

Damon S., 307, 316. 
Harry, 307, 568, 569. 
Hobart, 308, 568, 570. 
George H., 308, 316. 
Schuyler B., 314, 316. 
Lucius, 504, 567, 568. 
Taylor, 567. 
Frederick, 567, 568, 570, 

Abel, 568, 569. 
Sally, 568. 
Mary, 568, 570. 
Robert, 568. 
Olive, 568. 



Peck, William K. Sen., 443. 

Peck, William K. Jun., 367, 614, 615. 

Peck, J. Bidwell, 375. 

Peck, Rev. Joseph, 14, 63, 75. 

Peck, Elliott, 313. 

Peck, John W., 310, 316. 

Peck, Mrs. Elizabeth Dewell, 567. 

Perrin, Rev. Dr. L., 432. 

Peet, Rev. Stephen, 274. 

Perry, Myron, 241. 

Peaslee, Edward H., M. D., 65, 602. 

Pearson, Capt., 109. 

Perkins, Lockwood, 268. 

Perkins, Philip, 310, 

Prentice, Rev. Mr., 387. 

Preston, Mrs. Seth, 201. 

Pierpont, Rev. John, 203. 

Prince, Ensign, 314, 317. 

Prime, Joseph, 314. 

Prime, James, 314. 

Pitkin, Col. John, 331. 

Pierce, Moses, 339. 

Pinney, Esq., Grove, 568, 570. 

Pinney, Flora, 568. 

Pinney, Damon, 568, 570. 

Pinney, Orson, 568. 

Pierce, Rev. Ezra B., 586. 

Potter, Rev. Mr.. 128. 

Porter, Dea. Frederick E., 169, 247, 

255, 367, 427, 513, 560, 575. 
Porter, Col. Joshua, 229. 
Porter, Lucius P., 252, 253, 575. 
Porter, Prest. Noah, 404, 429, 432, 

438. 
Porter, Capt. Henry, 543, 544, 575. 
Porter, Jennette, 544, 576. 
I'orter, James, 576 
Porter, Butler & Co., 238. 
Powell, Rev. B. C, 444, 586. 
Potter, Bradley, 266. 
Potter, Jared, 297, 299. 
Plumb, Amariah, 46, 47, 62, 82, 83. 
Plumbly, Ebenezer, 85, 90, 195. 
Plumley, Joseph, 195, 524. 
Putnam, Gen. Israel. 92, 220, 466. 
Pupin, Prof. M. I., 341, 535, 602. 
Plumb, Frederick, 386. 
Purple, Miss Rachel, 433. 
Quinn, Rev. Thomas, 589. 
Randolph, Peyton, 29. 
Ransom, Samuel, 60, 61, 228. 
Reed, Col., 112, 113, 115. 
Reid, Dr. Adam. 432, 474. 
Reeder, Mrs. Sarah, 181, 274. 
Richards, Elisha, 46. 61. 



644 



INDEX. 



Richards, Jedediah, 16, 44, 46, 47, 59, 
61, 63, 69, 74, 91, 138, 139, 143, 146, 
506. 
Richards, Jedediah Jr., CO, 85, 193, 

196, 506. 
Richards, Salmon, 506. 
Richards, Robert U., 195. 
Richards, Thomas, 246, 258. 
Richards, Roswell, 506. 
Richards, James, 75. 
Riggs, Esq., Joseph, 289, 548, 550, 

551, 615. 
Riggs, Norman, 89, 92, 219, 504, 527, 

549, 551, 579. 
Riggs, Miles, 91, 92, 195, 335, 515, 

528, 548. 550. 
Riggs, Lewis, M. D., 550. 
Riggs, Eden, 194, 335, 528, 550, 570. 
Riggs, Hiram Harman, 335, 528, 550. 
Riggs, Frederick, 335. 
Riggs, George, 551. 
Riggs, Chauncey, 551. 
Rider, Andrew, 573. 
Riley, John C, 387. 
Ripley, Rev. Mr., 109. 
Rice, William B., 279, 283, 291, 292, 

293, 325, 383, 569, 615. 
Rice, John, 537. 
Rice, Amanda, 562. 
Roys, Auren, 70, 78, 156, 194, 287, 

513, 519, 520, 538, 614, 
Royce, Josiah, 528. 
Roys, Erastus, 569. 
Roys, Caroline, 569. 
Roys, Clarissa, 569. 
Roys, Maria, 569. 
Roys, Harriet, 572. 
Roys, Catharine, 572. 
Roys, Luther, 572. 
Roys, Lorenzo, 572. 
Roys, Nathaniel, 153, 194, 202, 236, 

528, 536. 
Roys, Harlow, 191, 240, 241, 242, 267, 

525, 569. 
Roys, Hiram, 335, 339, 528, 572. 
Roys, Augustus, 194, 240, 569, 572. 
Roys, Daniel, 194. 572. 
Roys, James, 195, 339, 572. 
Roys, Josiah, 195. 
Roys, David W., 196, 341, 513. 
Robbins, Rev. Ammi R., 14, 15, 17, 

30, 70, 76, 77, 82, 96, 97, 122, 137, 

151, 156, 196, 270, 274, 287, 329, 378, 

386, 392, 394, 396, 397, 399, 507, 534, 

584, 593. 



Robbins, Madam Elizabeth, 394, 396. 
Robbins, Rev. Thomas, D. D., 141, 

274, 287, 288, 334, 393, 395, 396, 397! 
Robbins, Rev. Philemon, 76, 77, 123, 

147, 392, 396. 
Robbins, Natthaniel, 139, 194, 395, 

396, 519, 520, 535. 
Robbins, Miss Sarah, 395. 
Kbbbins, Francis Le Baron, 396. 
Robbins, Ammi R. Jr., 396, 398, 399. 
Robbins, James W., 395. 
Robbins, Mrs. James. 166. 
Robbins, Theodore, 309. 
Robbins, Ammi 3d, 395. 
Robbins, George, 395. 
Robbins, Edward, 395. 
Robbins, James, 396, 400. 
Robbins, Samuel, 396, 399. 
Robbins, Richard, 396. 
Robbins, Francis L., D. D., 403. 
Robbins School, 279. 2S4. 
Roberts, Rev. Nathaniel, 77, 123, 378. 
Roberts, Halsey, 314, 317. 
Rogers, Abiathar, 85, 90, 196. 
Robinson, Joseph, 309, 317. 
Robinson, Rev. Jonathan, 586. 
Rogers, Richard W., 602. 
Rood, Jabez, 61. 
Rood, James, 195. 
Root, George F.. 375. 
Root, Charles, 314. 
Root, Sidney, 538. 
Rowland, D. H., 247, 602. 
Rockwell, Theron, 483. 
Rockwell, Annie C, 483. 
Rockwell, Dr. Philo G., 517. 
Rockwell, Columbus, 517. 
Rockwell, Samuel, 575. 
Rockwell, Alpha, 575. 
Rockwell, Martin, 575. 
Rockwell, Miss Eliza, 575. 
Rockwell, Miss Cornelia, 276, 575. 
Rockwell, John T.. 343. 
Rockwell, Miss Caroline A., 395. 
Rockwell, Seth, 387. 
Rockwell, Joseph, 90, 196, 516. 
Rockwell, George, 290, 516. 
Russell, Horace, 311. 
Russell, Rev. Mr., 167. 
Ryan, Edward E., 235, 236, 237, 314, 

573. 588. 
Ryan, John, 235, 236, 237, 325, 511, 

573, 574. 588. 
Ryan, Charles, 235, 573, 588. 



INDEX. 



645 



Ryan, Matthew, 201, 235, 236, 237, 

264,, 573, 574, 58S. 
Ryan, J. & E. E. & Co., 233, 236, 237, 

261, 264, 510, 573, 574, 578. 
Ryan, Mrs. Matthew, 201. 
Ryan, Charles M., 236, 264, 574, 575. 
Ryan, Timothy, 306, 317. 
Ryan, Colonel George, 325. 
Ryan, Matthew J.. 511. 
Ryan, Joanna B., 574. 
Ryan, Frank K., 574. 
Ryan, James R., 574. 
Ryan, Bernard E., 574. 
Ryan, Lawrence A., 574. 
Ryan, Margaret M., 574. 
Spaulding, Jacob, 61, 138, 144, 380, 

577. 
Spaulding, Philo, 195. 
Spaulding, Mrs. Jerusha, 102. 
Spaulding, Isaac, 195, 562, 577. 
Spaulding, Isaac Jun., 577. 
Spaulding, Austin A., 239, 367, 578. 
Spaulding, Daniel, 339, 577, 578. 
Spaulding, Charles S., 312, 578. 
Spaulding, Frederick A., 578. 
Spaulding, John F., 578. 
Spaulding, Daniel R., 578. 
Spaulding, William A., 578. 
Spaulding, Frederick S., 578, 600. 
Strain, Rev. James, 588. 
Sacket, Solomon, 577. 
Stannard, Obed, 550. 
Stannard, James, 549. 
Stannard, Appleton, 549. 
Stannard, jVfalachi, 549. 
Stannard, Horace. 513. 
Slater, James J., 313. 
Sparks, W. I., 266. 
Slade & Fenn, 235. 
Slade, William R., 234. 
Starr, Rev. Peter, 172, 378, 402. 
Stark, Miss, 276. 
Sage, Alpha, 265. 
Sage, Calvin N., 306. 
Sage, Edmund B., 310. 
Sage, Enos A.. 310. 
Sage, Edward B., 317. 
Stanton, William, 355. 
Saxton, Jehiel, 355. 
Salmon, Mr.. 519. 
Swain, Theron, 567. 
Sagur, Rev. Charles, 586. 
Seymour, Bevell, 53. 
Seward, Elizabeth, 195. 
Seward, Abigail, 512. 



Seward, Brotherton, 75, 81, 87, 88, 

116, 117, 229, 
Seaward, Capt. Joseph, 75, 578. 
Seaward, Elnathan, 84. 
Stevens, Reuben, 84. ^ 

Seymour, Samuel, 248. 
Seymour, Rufus P., 248. 
Seymour, Alva, 517. 
Sperry, Lemuel, 85. 
Steward, Silas, 86. 
Sterling, Elisha, 191. 
Sedgwick, Capt. Abraham, 96. 
Sedgwick, Major, 97, 117. 
Stevens, Capt., 102. 
Stevens, Nathaniel, 140, 156, 157, 194, 

234, 239, 510, 538, 547, 614. 
Stevens, Halsey, 539, 548. 
Stevens, Dr. J. H. P., 199, 307, 548. 
Stevens, Jerusha Pettibone, 510. 
Stevens, E. C, 215, 267, 601. 
Stevens, Nathaniel B., 216, 239, 237, 

265, 291, 343, 360, 578, 615. 
Stevens, John, 547. 
Stevens, N. B. & Co., 240, 245, 258, 

510. 
Stevens, Nathaniel Jun., 548. 
Shepard, Major James, 143, 512, 521, 

522, 538. 
Shepard, Capt. John A., 168, 202, 379, 

390, 482, 546. 
Shepard, Frederick M., 293, 348, 482, 

590, 599. 
Shepard, Levi, 201, 232, 245, 246, 286, 

338, 548. 
Shepard, Mrs. Levi, 245. 
Shepard, Capt. John K., 238, 239, 

246, 267, 299, 353, 366, 367, 546, 548. 
Shepard, Mrs. Sarah Mills, 356. 
Shepard, James H., 265, 267, 522. 
Shepard & King, 265. 
Shepard & Johnson, 265. 
Stevens & Hawley, 267. 
Stevens, Richard, 258. 
Stevens House, 267. 
Selden, Joseph, 255. 
Smedley, Thomas, 308. 
Steck, Francis, 311, 317. 
Spellman, George W., 312. 
Spellman, Charles, 314, 317. 
Seymour, Cornelia R., 530, 575. 
Stedman, Col., 323, 324. 
Seymour, Judge Origin S., 326. 
Seymour, Governor Horatio, 327. 
Stevens, George W., 367. 
Schenb, Mrs. Professor, 400. 



646 



INDEX. 



Searles, Enoch, 467. 

Stevens, Eunice, 467. 

Stevens, Phebe, 468. 

Sedgwick, Miss Emily, 469. 

Shepard, Dr. Charles U., 461. 

Shepard, Annie Rockwell, 483. 

Shepard, Clara Margaret, 483. 

Shepard, Joseph Minott, 483. 

Shepard, John Andrus, 483. 

Shepard, Edith Mills, 483. 

Shepard, Zebulun, 513. 

Shepard, Samuel, 522. 

Shepard, Prof. Edward, 522. 

Sexton, David, 195, 547, 554. 

Sexton, Rebecca, 547. 

Sexton, Melissa, 562. 

Stearns, Rev. William P., 579. 

Stevens, The, 601. 

Stevens, Harry E.. 614. 

Smith, Rev. Cotton M., 77. 

Smith, Asher, 85, 528, 568, 569, 570, 

573. 
Smith, John, 195. 545. 
Smith, Capt. Charles, 90. 
Smith, Joseph, 196, 548. 
Smith, Rev. Theophilus, 163. 
Smith, Augustus, 196, 240, 569, 570. 
Smith, Dr. Francis B.. 367. 
Smith, Erastus, 286. 
Smith, Mrs. Erastus, 201. 
Smith, Richard, 228. 
Smith, Gip, 559. 
Smith, Samuel, 201, 373, 528. 
Smith, Philo, 257, 360, 363, 554, 558. 
Smith, Obadiah, 91, 220, 257, 290, 

363, 555, 559. 
Smith, Lorrin B., 559. 
Smith, Arthur, 555. 
Smith, Samuel Jr., 314. 
Smith, Edward P., 310. 
Smith, Rufus, 573. 
Swift, Edward B., 336, 595. 
Swift, Colonel Heiiian, 82, 84, 116. 
Swift, Captain, 101. 
Swift, James, 194, 507, 513, 554, 587. 
Swift, James C, 235, 264, 265, 615, 

266, 297, 360, 510. 
Swift, Salmon, 264, 272, 379, 587. 
Swift, William, 255. 
Swift, Henry M., 272, 275. 
Skinner, Ira, 194. 
Silliman, General, 109. 
Smith, Eugene, 602. 
Spring, Rev. Mr., 106. 
Sibley, Charles W.. 511. 



Strickland, Edward, 61, 139. 143, 243. 

Strickland, Samuel, 61. 

Strickland, Jonathan, 62. 

Strong, Arial, 86. 

Strong, John, 90, 94, 95, 381, 527. 

Scholes, Mr. 375. 

Stowe, Mrs. H. B., 189. 

Scoville, William, 247, 309. 

Scoville, George W., 265, 290, 309, 

593. 
Scoville, Mrs. G. Clifford, 624. 
Somers, Rev. F. J., 586. 
Stone, Elizabeth, 561. 
Stoeckel, Carl, 293, 368. 
Stoeckel, Mrs. Carl, 233, 293, 5S1. 
Stoeckel, Dr. Gustave J., 402, 602. 
Stoeckel, Robbins Battell, 615. 
Storrs, Rev. R. S., D. D., 448, 458. 
Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe, 540. 
Spofiford, Charles A., 602. 
Sturtevant, Caleb, 84, 88. 
Sturtevant, Nathan, 85. 
Sturdivant, James, 86, 195. 
Sturdevant, Lucy, 523. 
Schuyler, Gen., 97, 98, 100, 120, 121. 
Sullivan, Gen., 109. 
Stuart, William, 307. 
Sughrue, John, 314, 317. 
Taylor, Samuel, 86. 
Taylor, Rev. Dr., 151. 
Taylor, Mercy, 567. 
Tallmadge, Benjamin, 356. 
Tarbox, Increase N., 398. 
Thatcher, Prof. Thomas A., 348, 457. 
Thrall, Giles, 86. 
Trail, Rufus, 84. 
Thrall, Friend, 570. 
Treat, Rev. Mr., 14, 75, 139, 146. 
Treat, Barzel, 158, 194, 263, 340, 528. 
Terry, Col. Alfred H.. 306. 
Trescott, Samuel, 196, 2.32, 245. 
Trescott, Edward J., 66, 615. 
Tibbals, Thomas, 85, 95, 119, 139. 

146, 195, .533, 534, 535. 
Tibbals, Thomas Jr., 533, 534, 535. 
Tibbals, Capt. Samuel, 85, 90, 336, 

509, .533, 534, 535. 
Tibbals, Noah, 336, 533, 535. 
Tibbals, Captain Auren, 190, 201, 

203, 339, 533, 535, 536, 584. 
Tibbals, A. & S., 236. 
Tibbals, Stephen, 363, 520, 533, 535. 
Tibbals, Dea. Joseph, 533. 
'' ibbals, Amos, 533. 
Tibbals, Mrs. Sheldon, 534, 584. 



INDEX. 



647 



Tibbals, Harvey Stillman. 535. 

Tibbals, Thomas 3d, 535. 

Tibbals, Elbert Plumb, M. D., 535. 

Tibbals, Sheldon, 535, 584. 

Tibbals, Captain, 573. 

Tibbals, Lorrin, 573. 

Tibbals, Frederick, 573. 

Tibbals, George, 573. 

Tibbals, Lyman, 573. 

Thompson, Charles, 29, 165. 

Thompson, Levi, 195, 232, 386, 513, 
531. 

Thompson, Gideon, 53. 

Tobey, Jesse, 83, 88, 509. 

Tobey, George, 196. 500, 585. 

Tobey, George Jr., 196. 

Thompson, Abraham, 467. 

Thompson, Lydia, 488. 

Thompson, Giles, 513, 539. 

Thompson, Seth, 513. 

Thompson, Sarah, 513. 

Thompson, Rev. Charles L., D. D., 
543. 

Todd, Rev. Elbert H., 586. 

Thompson, Miss Anna Key, 602. 

Trowbridge, John, 84. 

Thompson, Gen., 106, 107. 

Thompson, Giles Pettibone, 266, 357, 
513. 

Trowbridge, Phllo M., 317, 318, 319, 

323. 
Turner, John, 16, 44, 46, 47, 61, 63, 
66, 69, 74, 138, 139, 143, 146, 331, 
509, 548. 
Turner, William. 85, 88. 
Turner, David, 46, 47, 62, 
Turner, Hezekiah, 194. 
Turner, John Jr., 46, 47, 52, 53. 
Turner, Samuel, 509. 
Turner, Bates, 85, 509. 
Turner, Jedediah, 46, 47, 61, 63, 139, 

147, 197, 509. 
Turner, Rev. Nathaniel, 509. 
Tuttle, Benjamin, 82, 87. 
Turner, Moses, 84. 88. 
Tubbs, Nathan, 84. 
Tudor, Rev. Samuel, 143. 
Tucker, Solomon, 194. 
Trumbull, Jonathan, 30. 
Tuttle, Stephen, 225. 
Thurston's Block, 268. 
Turner, William A., 309. 
Thurston, Mrs. Laura Hawley, 483. 
Thurston, Franklin, 484. 
Tyrrell, Sidney, 244. 



Tyrrell, Willis H., 306, .312, 317. 
Tyrrell, Judge Grove P., 624. 
Tyler, Judge Joel Walter, 467. 
Tyler, Bishop, 588. 
Van Dyke, Dr.. 304. 
Van Ness, Amanda. 372. 
Vail, David, 538, 585. 
Vail, Samuel, 538. 
Vail, Rev. Adee. 586. 
Van Arnum, Rev. J. C, 586. 
-'Vaughn, Rev. William H., 586. 

Walter, William, 16, 21, 48, 53, 54, 

140, 505. 539. 
Walter, Joel, 386, 467, 505. 
Walter, John, 84, 88, 505. 
Wadsworth, James, 38. 
Walter, Charles, 83, 88, 193, 194. 
Walter, Clark, 194. 
Walter, Medad, 194. 
Walker, John M., 306. 
Walcott, Mrs. Emma, 469. 
Walter. Stephen, 505. 
Walter, Heman, 505. 
Washington, Gen. George, 30, 92, 385. 
Warner, William, 53. 
Walter, William Jr., 505. 
Watson, Capt. Titus, 81, 84, 88, 100, 

104, 115, 117, 549. 
Watson, Capt. John, 94, 100, 112 116. 
Watson, Heman, 89, 115. 
Watson, Seymour, 401. 
Watson, Abijah, 572. 
Warner, Hessibah, 90. 
Warner, Col., 108, 111. 
Warner, John, 195. 
Watrous, Lucius, 314. 
Warner, Woleott, 381. 
Wayland, John, 524. 
Wayland, Chandler Norton, 524. 
Warren, Benjamin, 537, 562. 
Warren, Harriet, 562. 
Warner, Rev. Levi, 580. 
Whalen, Michael, 588. 
Wetmore, Rev. Noah, 14, 75, 124. 
Wetmore, Seth, ,331. 
Welch, Hopestill, 84, 232, 233, 380, 

466, 514. 
Welch, Vine, 233. 467. 
Welch, Dr. Benjamin Sr., 140, 157, 
194, 233, 234, 334, 377, 386, 468, 
470, 513. ' 
Welch, Asa G., M. D., 468, 473. 
Welch, Hopestill, M. D., 467. 
Welch, Benjamin Jr., M. D., 163, 193, 
277, 297, 467, 468, 474, 



648 



INDEX. 



Welch, James, M. D., 272, 469, 475. 
Welch, William H., M. D., L. L. D., 

469, 479, 480. 
Welch, William W., M. D., 238, 240, 

242, 251, 343, 367, 368, 469, 475, 548. 
Welch, Mrs. Louisa Guiteau, 472. 
Welch, Mrs. Elizabeth Loveland, 472. 
Welch, John H., M. D., 251, 366, 367, 

469, 477. 
Welch, Miss Susannah, 274, 467. 
Welch, Miss Alice, 275, 276, 467. 
Welch, Miss Eunice, 467. 
Welch, Samuel S. H., 467. 
Welch, Phebe Sophia, 467. 
Welch, Alice, 469. 
Welch, Sarah, 467. 
Welch, Abigail, 467. 
Welch, Olive, 467, 504. 
Welch, Lucy, 467. 
Welch, Charlotte, 467. 
Welch, Elizabeth, 467. 
Welch, Luna Selina, 468. 
Welch, Louisa Pamela, 468, 489, 518. 
Welch, Edward H., M. D., 469. 
Welch, William C, M. D., 469. 
Welch, John B., M. D., 469. 
Welch, John W.. 469. 
Welch, John H. & Co., 238, 251, 266. 
Welaka Company, 238, 250. 
West, Rev. Mr.. 111. 
Wheeler, Hiram, 218. 
Wetraore, Seth, 387. 
Wetmore, Truman, 389. 
Wetmore, John, 389. 
Welton, Daniel, 467. 
Whiting, William, 48. 
Wilcox, Ezekiel, 158, 194, 467, 504. 
Wilcox, Capt. Hosea, 48, 92, 140, 551. 
Wilcox, Rosanna, 545. 
Willcockson, Daniel, 53. 
Willcockson, William, 51, 53. 
Whitney, Joshua, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 



56, 57, 58, 61, 62, 64, 65, 139, 140, 
143, 198, 226, 227, 511, 538. 

Whitney, Col. David, 331, 332. 

Whitfleld, Rev. George, 382. 

Wright, Huldah, .568. 

Wright, Levi, 552. 

Wright, Freedom, 82, 83. 

White, Simeon, 196. 

White, Jededlah, 83, 196. 

White, Matthew, 90. 

White, Daniel, 90, 339, 536. 

Wilcox, Capt. Amos, 96. 

Wright, Capt., 115. 

Whitney, Capt., 140. 

Wilcox, Seth, 195. 

White, Mrs. Daniel, 201. 

Whiting, Loomis L., 255. 

Whiting, Jennison J., 257. 

Whiting, Mr., 569. 

White, Turner, 571. 

White, Stanford, 597. 

Windom, William D., 602. 

Williams, Frederick Wells, 602. 

Wilson, Rev. Benjamin, 586. 

Williams, Col. John. 578. 

Winsted Mfg. Company, 247, 511. 

Willis, Mr., 275. 

Wilson, Daniel, 333. 

Wilder, Mary, 397. 

Willis, Richard Storrs, 455. 

Wooster, General, 106, 108. 

Wolfe, General, 577. 

Woodward, Alice, 466. 

Woodward, Dea. Lucius, 571. 

Wolcott, Orlo J., 238, 267, 268, 366. 

Wolcott, Orlo H., 312. 

Wolcott, Oliver, 381. 

Wyllys, George, 45, 46. 

Yale, Joseph C, 194. 

Yale, William, 242. 

Yale, Grove, 265, 510. 



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